Rex H. Osborn

Rex. H. Osborn 1923 - 2011 Salina, Utah - Rex Heath Osborn, age 88, of Payson, Arizona and formerly of Salina, died July 14, 2011 in Payson, Arizona. He was born January 14, 1923, a son of Robert LeRoy and Joyce Heath Osborn and raised in Salina. He joined the United States Army Air Force and served his country during World War II and was discharged in 1946. After a short time back in Salina, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering and went to work for Northrop Aircraft. He worked in several capacities there, but primarily on the F-5/T-38 fighter/trainer in flight testing. Rex married Francis (Fran) Summers in 1966 and they moved to Payson, Arizona, after he retired from Northrop. Rex loved to hunt and fish and returned to Salina frequently throughout his life to pursue those hobbies with his brother, Dan Osborn. He and Fran enjoyed traveling and took their camper to Alaska, Canada and Mexico, as well as shorter trips around the United States. In Payson, he belonged to several service and fraternal organizations and presided over the VFW. Rex was also instrumental in inspiring family members into technical fields of Math and Engineering. He fostered an interest in respect for the natural world and living history with his stories about family members and his own experiences. He is survived by his two sisters: Eva Patterson of Centerfield, Utah and Ada Crawford of Orange, California; as well as several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Joyce Osborn; and two brothers: Lee Osborn and Dan Osborn. Grave side services will be held Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. in the Salina Eastside Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Salina American Legion Post #36 and the Utah Honor Guard and under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.