Billy J. Osborne's Obituary
Billy J. Osborne, 92, businessman, rancher and civic servant, died on Friday, February 5, 2016, at his Mount Dora home. With him were his loving wife of 72 years, Jean Ann, and his daughter, Carol. Billy was born on August 12, 1923, to James William Osborne and Mattie Vesta (Smith) Osborne, in Meadow Bluff, West Virginia. After serving honorably in the military during World War II, during which he met and married Jean, Billy worked briefly in the automobile industry in Detroit before finding his life-long profession as a hearing aid audiologist. After owning and operating several hearing aid offices in Michigan and becoming a 32nd degree Mason, Billy moved his family to Florida in 1956 and opened offices in St Petersburg and downtown Tampa. In Tampa, Billy was active in the Chamber of Commerce and entered the Bahia Shrine Temple, joining the clown unit and performing in parades and other events.
In 1964, Billy relocated his family and his business to Orlando and decided to return to the Osborne tradition of farming. A few years after buying and improving 200 acres of rolling land near Zellwood in 1966 (the first of two farms he owned in the area over a period of approximately twenty years), Billy invited to his farm house a group of neighbors who expressed interest in his idea of addressing problems in the area. An agreement was made to create a new organization, the Northwest Orange County Improvement Association. Billy was elected NOCIA’s president for its first and second years, as well as additional terms during NOCIA’s early years. Raising funds to improve the area and to purchase land and build a community center, NOCIA’s annual “Corn Boil” dinners bloomed into the Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival in 1974 with Billy serving as the Festival’s first General Chairman, a job he undertook several more times over the years. More than 12,000 people attended that first Festival. During its heyday, the Festival served as many as forty thousand people in a single weekend in May, entertaining them with well-known country music stars.
Billy retired from farming and moved to Mount Dora in 1988. At that time the sidewalks along Lake Dora between Palm Island, the Lighthouse, the boat ramp, the marina and the Lawn Bowling club did not exist and Billy watched a near accident between a truck and a senior walker on South Tremain Street. Billy went into action in early 1989, forming in his home a new organization, the Mount Dora Civic Enhancement Association, with the help of other committed community servants. Billy served as the Association’s first Chairman and appealed to local service and civic organizations and benefactors for funding to build a beautiful walkway connecting the locations. As Chairman, Billy served as Master of Ceremonies at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Lighthouse Walk on July 4, 1990.
The Sweet Corn Festival and Lighthouse Walk were the highlights of Billy’s volunteer activities, but there were many more achievements. Those included being named the Kiwanian of the Year for 2002-2003 and receiving the George F. Hixson Fellow medal in 1998 for his activities on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Mount Dora, and his membership and activities in the Elks and many other community organizations.
Billy and Jean had three children, two of which preceded him in death, a son, James William, and a daughter, Glenna Jean. In addition to his wife, Jean, and daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Frank Hucks, Columbus, Ohio, Billy is survived by his grandson Thomas Osborne and family, Leesburg, granddaughter Audrey Sawyer and family, Columbus, Ohio, and more caring and special nieces, nephews and friends than anyone deserves.
Family and friends are invited to gather for viewing on Thursday, February 11th from 10:00 am until 11:00 am with a funeral ceremony starting at 11:00 am, all in the Steverson Hamlin & Hilbish Chapel, 226 E. Burleigh Boulevard, Tavares.
Because Billy loved every dog, cow, and horse he ever had, donations to your local animal shelter may be given in lieu of flowers.
Condolences, memories and photos may be shared on the tribute wall.
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