Willie Dean Osborne

Willie “Dean” Osborne, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, passed away on December 16, 2024, at the age of 91. Born on August 21, 1933, in McHue, Arkansas, to Willie Lee Osborne and Gladys Redman (Sellers) Osborne. Dean grew up in Desha, Arkansas and attended Desha Public Schools through high school where he was a basketball athlete and first discovered his lifelong love of education and mathematics.

Dean lived a remarkable life of service, education, travel, and a love for his family and friends.

Dean proudly served his country for 35 years and traveled to over 92 countries throughout North America, Europe, Middle East and Far East. He was drafted for active duty in 1956 as a Staff Sergent in the United States Army and spent the entirety of his service in the Department of Defense in the United States and over 27 years across Europe. He served the U.S. Army Air Defense as a Mathematician in Ft. Chaffee, AR and Ft. Bliss, TX; U.S. Department of the Army Intelligence School in Batesville, AR as an Advanced Mathematics Teacher; U.S. Military Schools in Frankfurt, Germany as a Modern Mathematics Teacher; U.S. Army Military Schools in Wiesbaden, Germany as Dean of Students; U.S. Navy Military Schools in Lakenheath, England as the Superintendent of Students and Teaching Staff; and Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Europe as part of the United States American Embassy in Bonn, Germany serving as both European Coordinator of all schools and the American Embassy, as well as Vice Principal of Schools at Bonn American High School in Bonn, Germany. 

During his tenure he was familiar with European and Middle East and Far East social and business customs and ethics, 25 years of administrative management, diplomatic service for 14 years with contract services, procurement, social services, benefits and customs, public relations, and financial management of multi-million-dollar budgets. This also allowed him to travel world-wide for extended periods of time.

Dean was given opportunities for promotions but turned them down to allow his own children, Eric and Kelly, to stay in school at Bonn American High School in Bonn, Germany as he felt it was a world-class learning institute and would benefit them greatly in life. Dean was in Europe during war time as well as experiencing history first-hand such as witnessing the first handshake across the Berlin Wall when the wall was brought down to allow democracy to flourish.

Upon his retirement from the Department of Defense American Embassy in Bonn, Germany in 1991, he moved stateside to Little Rock, Arkansas and quickly obtained his Real Estate License the same year, followed by his Real Estate Appraise License and certifications for both transitional and residential.

Prior to his career with the Department of Defense, he was a Mathematics teacher at Batesville High School in Batesville, AR, Camelback High School in Phoenix, AZ and Arizona State University in Phoenix, AZ. 

Embodying the dedication and commitment to service that defined his life, his devotion to others extended beyond his military service and education enriching the lives of his students. As a fierce advocate of education, Dean expected students to always strive to be their very best but was also extremely fair and willing to help those in need. His compassionate nature shinned brightly through his desire to enlighten and expand a person’s knowledge and considered education a strong foundation for a successful future.

Dean always sought higher education including obtaining a Ph. D. in Psychology and Education from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; a Master of Arts in Administration from University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; Master of Science in Education and Mathematics from University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR; and a Bachelor of Science in Education and Mathematics from University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR.

To pay for his college tuition, he worked summers as a canning supervisor for Libby McNeill in Janesville, WI. Dean also taught dance lessons at Arthur Murray Dance School and was a favorite of all who encountered him. An avid sports enthusiast, he particularly enjoyed football and basketball and served as a basketball coach including accompanying his team to American University of Vevay, Switzerland throughout his children’s high school years.

Dean leaves behind a loving family who will miss him dearly. He is survived by his devoted wife of 25 years, Joan Osborne of Maumelle, Arkansas; his son, Eric Osborne and wife Amanda of Colorado Springs, Colorado; his stepson, Glenn Pearson and wife Kim of Maumelle, Arkansas; his daughter, Kelly Gaddis and her husband James of Little Rock, Arkansas; his stepdaughter Traci Brunner and husband Ron of Austin, Texas; and his brother, Bob Osborne and his wife Laurie of North Little Rock, Arkansas. He was a proud grandfather to Tara Osborne, Spencer Osborne, Jason Osborne, Lindsey Burmester, Clayton Pearson, Grant Pearson, Madison Brunner and McKenzie Brunner; as well as sweet great-grandchildren, Asher Burmester, Beckham Burmester and Carson Pearson. Dean is also remembered by a host of extended family and friends whose lives he touched profoundly.

He was preceded in death by his father Willie Lee Osborne and his mother Gladys Redman (Sellers) Osborne.

Visitation and service to honor Dean's memory will be held at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St. North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114 on Friday, December 20, 2024. Visitation will be at 2:00 pm and service will follow at 3:00 pm. Dean’s legacy of service and education will live on in the hearts of his loved ones and all who had the privilege to know him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Boys Town as it was near and dear to Dean’s heart and one in which he always supported: www.boystown.org

Services entrusted to Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home. The family would love for you to leave a precious memory of Dean via the Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com