J. Grafton Osborn

J. Grafton Osborn, 86, a lifelong resident of Aberdeen, died Friday, February 8, 2008 after a brief illness. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy Leigh Cronin Osborn, and his parents, J. Howard and Martha J. Grafton Osborn. He is survived by his children Mary Helen Morgan and her husband Harvey, of Saluda, VA; Barbara Osborn Kreamer, Esq., of Aberdeen; James G. Osborn Jr. and his wife Rebecca, of Houston, TX; and Dr. N. Elizabeth Osborn, of Cedar Point, NC. Also surviving are five grandchildren R. Nathaniel Kreamer, of San Francisco, CA; Elizabeth K. Wittstadt and her husband Kurt, of Lutherville, MD., Meredith A. Osborn, Megan R. Osborn, and James G. Osborn, all of Houston. Mr. Osborn was a man for all seasons. He was a noted baseball and soccer athlete at Aberdeen High School, at the University of Maryland on an undefeated soccer team, and in the canners baseball league in Harford County. He enjoyed duck and goose hunting, and golf past the age of 80. For the last twenty years he and close friends since first grade played bridge each Wednesday. After graduating from the University of Maryland, he returned to the farm, which had been in his family since 1753, retired the mules, introduced tractors, installed electricity, and built a corn canning operation for farms he owned and operated in Harford and Cecil counties. When canning was no longer feasible, he worked in financial services for farmers serving on the Board of Towson Production Credit Association, and established a real estate office in Aberdeen as a broker. In 1961, he began a career as a Farm Loan Appraiser with The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States with a territory of Maryland, Delaware, and southeastern Pennsylvania. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore in 1971. With his encouragement, each of his children achieved postgraduate degrees. After retiring from The Equitable, he managed the 1980 census of the City of Baltimore. At age 65 he became a right-of-way appraiser for Harford County Government and rose to the position of Chief of Land Acquisition. Harford County honored him as a Harford Living Treasure on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Serving with dignity throughout his tenure with the county, he retired in 2004 at age 83. Mr. Osborn was active in the Harford County Farmer's Club, served on the boards of the Harford County Farm Bureau, the local Heart Association, the University of Maryland College of Agriculture Board, and served as president of the University of Maryland Agricultural Alumni Association, and the Northeast Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. He was a founding board member of the Fuel Fund of Harford County and sponsored its annual chili dinner for 30 years. As a lifelong member of Spesutia Episcopal Church in Perryman, he served many terms as Vestryman, Treasurer, Cemetery Custodian, and Junior Warden. He sponsored and served as chef for the church Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers. His love of family, friends, community, and county will long be remembered. Visitation was at Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home P.A., 333 S. Parke St., Aberdeen, MD on Tuesday February 12 from 3-5pm and 7-9pm. Funeral Services will be at Spesutia Episcopal Church, Spesutia Rd., Perryman, MD on Wednesday February 13th at 11 am with interment in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Harford County Historical Society, 143 N. Main St., Bel Air, MD 21014 or the Fuel Fund of Harford County, c/o Myrtle Ruff-Christmas, 6 Corns Dr., Bel Air, MD 21014 Funeral Home: Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home 333 South Parke Street Aberdeen, MD US 21001