John Henderson Osborne Jr

John Henderson Osborne Jr. (b. Aug. 17, 1928 at Blackwater, Va.) departed this life Thursday (Sept. 26, 2013), ever faithful of eternal life through his acceptance of God's grace through his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

John drew his last breath at home with his devoted wife and caregiver Wanda Jane (née Wallen) at his side, as she has been since their marriage in 1955. To John, Wanda was always his "Wildwood Flower."

In their final moments together on this side of the River Jordan, Wanda said to him "We've been sweethearts always and you're still my sweetheart. We're going to be sweethearts in heaven."
Along with their daughter Pamela, Wanda then gently sang a favorite gospel song as John slipped free from the corruptible world.
"My latest sun is sinking fast,
My race is nearly run;
My strongest trials now are past,
My triumph is begun.
Oh, come, angel band,
Come and around me stand;
Oh, bear me away on your snowy wings
To my eternal home;
Oh, bear me away on your snowy wings
To my eternal home."
And John was gone.

Growing up, John worked on his family's tobacco farm as well as in their store, Osborne General Mercantile. At age 13 he began driving a school bus, transporting children in the Lee County school system, with whom his father had a contract for bus service.

After graduation from Blackwater High School, John moved to Kingsport to join his family, who made the move several years earlier.

John always loved dogs, automobiles, and anything he could take apart a€" just to put it back together again. And he did that very well with automobiles, for a time operating a garage in downtown Kingsport.

In the early 1950s John answered his nation's call and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean
War, reaching the rank of sergeant while stationed with a MASH unit.

Upon his return from Korea, John "made a bee-line" to Blackwater to renew and intensify his courtship of Wanda. He also resumed work at Mead Corporation and helping his parents operate and maintain various rental properties and small grocery stores in town.
John retired from Mead Corporation after 44 years of work at the company's paper mill in Kingsport, where he made many friends and was well known for serving up his special recipe hot dogs.

In the early to mid 1980s, John and Wanda owned and operated Balloonacy, a singing balloon-a-gram service. And for a span of 20 years or more the couple were regulars in the local "antiquing" scene, with booths in downtown antiques malls.

He instilled into his children a deep sense of responsibility, but seasoned it with a great appreciation for adventure a€" always encouraging, and in many, many instances providing the means to pursue educational opportunities, through "book learning" as well as by travel,

They will remember him for travel-related quotes such as "I used to drive on that road over there," "Oh, let's just play it by ear," and "The more people you involve in your plans, the less likely you are to have a good time."

"He took care of all of us, but he also taught us what to do ourselves," Pamela said Thursday morning. "He led by example and showed us how to be the kind of person who always looks for ways to be helping others."

For John, the distinctions "in-law" and "by marriage" held no power over his love and acceptance of all as simply "family."

This was especially true for the sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews he proudly gained through his marriage to Wanda.

Known affectionately as Junior by many of his friends and family, and as Uncle Junior a€" a moniker he especially treasured a€" by his scores of nieces and nephews, was the third son of John Henderson Osborne Sr. (b. Dec. 19, 1896, d. Feb. 28, 1972) and Maude Duff Ward Osborne (b. June 23, 1902, d. June 11, 1997).

John's older brothers were: Dr. Paul James Osborne (b. 1922, d. 1997); and Elmer Ray Osborne (b. Nov. 25 1924, d. Oct. 4, 1981).

His younger, surviving brother, Harold S. Osborne, LTC, Ret., lives in Washington, D.C.
John's and Wanda's children are: Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence C. Fagans Jr. (Pamela and Larry), of Knoxville, Tenn.); Mr. & Mrs. Wayne K. Osborne (Keith and Kimberly Pigman Osborne), of Raleigh, N.C.; and John Henderson Osborne III (J.H. or Johnny), of Kingsport.

Their "son and daughter in spirit" are Dr. Bill and Susan Hudson.

John's and Wanda's grandchildren are: Mr. & Mrs. Michael Fuller (Michael and Kendra Osborne Fuller), of Raleigh, N.C.; Allison Fagans Carr and Tom Langley of Augusta, Ga.; Jeffrey Carr of Nashville; Deidre Celeste Osborne, of Raleigh; Emily Caitlin Fagans and fiance Ben Harless of Knoxville; and Mr. & Mrs. Joe Leone (Joe and Anne-Catherine Osborne Leone) of Wake Forest, N.C.

John's and Wanda's great-grandchildren are: Abigail "Abby" Louise Carr and Olivia Faye Carr, of Nashville and Augusta, Ga.; Taylor Grace Osborne, of Wake Forest, N.C.; and Everett Joseph Fuller, of Raleigh, N.C.

In addition to those listed above, John is survived by three sisters-in-law: Gracie Tankersley Wallen, of Kingsport; Mary Wallen Roller, of Indianapolis; and Frida Tiesen Osborne, of Yorktown, Va.

Visitation will be Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, 117 E. Charlemont Ave., Kingsport.

Funeral services will be at noon Sunday at West View Primitive Baptist Church, 1040 Riverside Ave., Kingsport a€" where John served as a deacon since his ordination on Feb. 18, 1967.

A military graveside service will follow immediately at Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family invites all John's nephews and husbands of nieces to serve as pallbearers or honorary pallbearers.

Cemetery Details