Dateline: March 13, 2008
Benjamin
Byers “Rabbit” Osburn, 79, of Clarendon, died Friday, March
7, 2008.
Services were held at 2:00 p.m. on
Monday, March 10, 2008, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev.
Lance Wood, Pastor officiating and with Rev. Truman Ledbetter and Don
Stone assisting. Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of
Clarendon.
Rabbit was born September 2, 1928,
in Red River Co. to Ben B. and Rosie Ethel Stone Osburn. He moved to
Donley County around 1943. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1945. After his
discharge, he returned to Clarendon to begin what became a lifelong career
in the furniture and appliance business. He worked for Household Supply
for 23 years before opening Osburn Furniture in 1971. After selling the
business in 1986 and taking a short retirement, he opened Rabbit’s
Appliance in 1988 and continued to operate until his death. He married
Ella Trojaeck in August 1948, and they had three sons. He married Shirley
Moss on July 24, 1970, and they had one daughter. Rabbit was a former
member of the Martin Baptist Church where he worked with the youth. As a
member of the First Baptist Church, he was active with TV ministry until
his illness. He was also a former member of the Donley County Hospital
Board.
He was preceded in death by his
parents; two brothers; and three sisters.
Survivors include his wife,
Shirley of the home; three sons, Maxey Osburn and wife Varetta of
Carrolton, Benny Osburn and wife Annette of Clarendon, and Rickie Osburn
of Moulton; a daughter, Dorcas Osburn of Clarendon; three sisters, Lena
Freeze of Childress, Veda McKay of Bovina, and Mary Ida Blythe of
Onalaska; 7 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and
nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family
requests memorials be to the Citizens Cemetery Association, PO Box 983,
Clarendon, Texas 79226, First Baptist Church TV Ministry, or the Donley
County Senior Citizens Association.
Sign our online guestbook at
www.RobertsonFuneral.com.