He was born on December 6, 1917, near Newburg, Iowa to W.J. and Elizabeth McDowell Osborn. The family lived on various farms in the Grinnell area and he attended rural schools and Grinnell High School. On March 1, 1942, he was married to Margaret Bryan at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. The couple lived in Grinnell and he served with the U.S. Army during World War II. Following the war, he worked in the Research and Development Department at the Maytag Company in Newton for 30 years. He formerly served on the City of Grinnell's Planning and Zoning Board and was a former member of the Elks Lodge and the VFW. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Osborn of Grinnell; his son and daughter-in-law,Sam and Mary Ann Osborn of Cedar Rapids; and one brother and his spouse, Keith and Maxine Osborn of Montezuma; one sister-in-law, Lucille Osborn of Hemet, CA; and one brother-in-law, Peter Rook of Hemet, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Wayne Osborn; and one sister, Marie Rook. Sympathy cards may be sent to: Margaret Bryan, 2036 Orchard Drive, Grinnell, Iowa 50112 or to Sam Osborn, 6714 Waterview Drive SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404. Memorials may be directed to the Robert Osborn Memorial Fund and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.