Ethel Merritt Osburn, 85, of Proctorville, Ohio passed away on Friday August 21, 2015 at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House of Huntington, WV following an extended illness. Ethel was born on December 12, 1929 in Logan County, WV to the late Millard “Mick” and Letha Mills Merritt. She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Effie Merritt Mills and Agnes Merritt Saunders and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wayne and Eula Tabor Osburn. She was married to Donald Bronson Osburn on May 24, 1947. Early in their married life she was employed by Sylvania, was a cook at Wayne Elementary School and was a clerk at Queen’s Department Store and Artis Department Store in Wayne, WV. After they moved to Proctorville, Ohio, she concentrated on taking care of their house and the love of her life, Don. She was a former member of Wayne United Methodist Church and Kenova United Methodist Church and was currently a member of New Hope United Methodist Church in Proctorville, Ohio. She was on various committees at these churches and at New Hope she was a choir member, helped with the food pantry and was a greeter on Sunday morning worship services which she did with Don. She leaves behind her husband of 68 years, Donald, a daughter, Sandra Ann Brubeck (William) of Barboursville, WV, and son, Donald Ray Osburn (Peggy) of Kenova, WV; three grandsons, Justin Wade Brubeck (Melissa), C. Michael Brubeck (Marybeth), and Michael “Micky” Osburn (Tammy); one granddaughter Stacy Lemaster (Richard); three great grandsons, JayMichael Cisco, Mason Brubeck, and Jaxson Lemaster; five great granddaughters, Karli Brubeck, Annie and Ellie Brubeck, and Byrn and Brooklyn Osburn; four sisters Goldie Gilbert, Margaret McNeely, Jewel Thompson, and Wilma Jean Bryan; two brothers-in-law Elmer Mills and Harold Thompson; sister-in-law Billie Jean Osburn; along with numerous nieces and nephews. We, of course, wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful caregivers at Heartland of Riverview for the nine months of care to Ethel after her stroke. The personal, family like touches shown to patients of Heartland will be forever remembered. We would also wish to thank the wonderful people of the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House of Huntington and the staff for their care and love shown to the family and Ethel in the last few weeks of her life. You will always hold a special place in our hearts and minds. The grandsons and great grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Tuesday August 25, 2015 at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, Ohio by Pastor Dwyane Shugert. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, Wayne, WV. Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday August 24, 2015 at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.
