Patricia Osborn

Patricia “Pat” Osborn, of Ottawa Hills, died Monday, August 29, 2016 at St. Luke’s Hospital. She was born on January 15, 1931 to Harold J. and Vera M. (Houck) Osborn. After majoring in journalism at Bowling Green State University, Pat held positions as newspaper reporter, state editor, and advertising copywriter before entering the field of education to become the adviser of award-winning high school newspapers and teacher of English and department chair at Bowsher High School in Toledo. Her published works include Reading Smarter, How Grammar Works, Poetry By Doing, and Finding America. Her short stories and poetry have appeared in such magazines as Educational Digest, Gifted Children's Magazine, School Arts, Fine Arts Discovery, Builders, and TV Guide. She was a member of the National Council of Teachers of English and Journalism Educators Association, and served as judge for the Great Lakes Interscholastic Press Association's annual newspaper contest. Pat was a respected voice in many arts and charitable organizations. She edited the Toledo Jazz Society’s award-winning newsletter, was an active patron of local jazz venue Murphy’s, and served as promotion director for jazz pianist Claude Black. She was a member of the American Association of University Women, served on the “Friends” board for the Toledo Day Nursery, volunteered for the Toledo Opera Guild, and was a member of the Toledo branch of the English Speaking Union. Pat traveled often to Stratford, where she was a patron member of the Stratford Ontario Theatre, and to Mexico, where she volunteered her time and knowledge to the Fundación Amistad Británico Mexicana, a British-Mexican charity providing relief to areas of Mexico struck by natural disaster. Pat is survived by her loving family, including brothers David (Marji) and Phil (Dyan) Osborn; nieces and nephews Amy Osborn, Kevin (Leslie) Jessing, Joel Osborn, Keleigh Osborn Lee, and Jamie Osborn (loving service dog, Thor); niece-in-law Kris Jessing; many grandnieces; grandnephews; and numerous loving cousins in Defiance, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her nephew, John Edwin Jessing. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and colleagues. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, 222 E. South Boundary Street, Perrysburg (419-874-3133). A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. The family will receive guests at the club house near Phil and Dyan’s condo at 4:00 p.m. for a light supper (Maps will be provided). Burial will be private. Those wishing to make a donation in Pat’s name are asked to consider Fundación Amistad Británico Mexicana (Av. Río Churubusco #422, Col. del Carmen, Del. Coyoacán, C.P. 04100, México D.F., http://www.amistadbritanicomexicana.org/index.php?q=donar) or one the many other charities Pat supported.