The Osborne family announces, with sadness, the death of Joseph William Henry “Bill” Osborne on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Known by many for his outgoing personality, and his dedication to the Salvation Army, Bill died just 2 months short of his 95th birthday after a life well-lived.
Bill was born on May 18, 1927, and grew up in Liverpool. He married Sheila Lawrence in 1950 and they settled in Ellesmere Port to raise their three children. They were active in the Salvation Army, playing in their Corps bands and singing in the Songsters. Bill loved music and brass banding, playing the Last Post yearly on Remembrance Day at the cenotaph, and outside his home in memory of his brother & other veterans lost in the war, teaching many others to play brass instruments, including teaching for many years at the local Grange Comprehensive School.
Bill is lovingly remembered by his sons John (Pat) and Peter (Pam). Bill was predeceased by his wife and life partner Sheila in 2010, and by his dearly loved daughter Angela in 2019 and her husband Jeff Tucker in 2007
Also remembering Bill with love are his grandchildren Paul (Kel), Mark (Bev), Carl (Melissa), Rebecca, Rachel, and Samantha, and many great-grandchildren. Bill will be missed by his sister Ruth Eves and her husband Ted and families, and fondly remembered by the Flynn, Gordon, and Hewitt families and many friends and Salvationists.
Bill will be laid to rest on Tuesday, April 19 with a service at the Salvation Army Ellesmere Port Corps at 12 noon, followed by the Chester Crematorium.
The family invites all who wish to attend to celebrate, with gratitude, the life of Bill Osborne.
Family flowers only please, however a donation in aid of Salvation Army Ellesmere Port, Strawberry Fields in Liverpool would be gratefully received.
To the Osborne family, Roland and I want to send our condolences to you all. We always enjoyed when Bill came to visit the cottage in Haliburton. He was always out and about even on his rental scooter the last visit or was busy with a project for the girls. I will always admire the dollhouse he and Sheila made! He will be missed I am sure. Please know our thoughts are with you.
Peter, Pam, Rebecca, Rachel and all of the Osborne Family,
We were sorry to hear about the loss of your father/grandfather. May the love, prayers and support of your family and friends bring you comfort and may the good memories see you through the difficult times ahead. Sending loving thoughts and warm hugs,
Deborah and Jeff Haime
We extend our sympathy to Bill’s family, particularly to Pam and Peter and their family. It’s wonderful that he lived such a long and full life and was able to pass on his love of music, and brass, to Peter. I’m sure his life made a positive impact on all his family and the wider community. Our prayers are with you at this time.
The loss of a friend’s parent is always difficult news to hear. We hope that Peter’s grief is lightened with happy memories. Bill touched the life of many, not only in his own community but among those who enjoyed his company when he visited Canada and of course the seven million people around the world who watched his viral YouTube video of him playing the Last Post on Armistice Day. He will be missed and fondly remembered by so many. Our sincerest condolences go to the Osborne family.
Bill was such a lovely Christian gentleman & a real character. Once met never forgotten!
He was a wonderful witness to his faith & will be sorely missed by all at Ellesmere Port Salvation Army & in the community.
I will miss his strong handshakes & his beaming smile. But …….
“We’ll meet in that land, oh won’t it be grand”!
Hi all. I heard such sad news on that Tuesday. A very good friend of mine passed away. His name was Bill, age 95. I used to call him my Grandad Bill every time I saw him and he called me his granddaughter too. I used to go to his house to see him and do his garden with Lee and Peter. He gave me away on my wedding day on 25th May, 2019. His family invited me to his 90th birthday party with Lee and other friends. I went to Morrisons sometimes on a Sunday with him after church at the Salvation Army and Snack and Chat on Tuesdays and Cameo on Mondays and do the garden at the church on a Saturday and we would all go out with Lee and Laurence in Laurence’s car to places.he would sometimes come to Choices youth group on Thursday nights
I will miss him loads rip bill
Hi all. I heard such sad news on that Tuesday. A very good friend of mine passed away. His name was Bill, age 95. I used to call him my Grandad Bill every time I saw him and he called me his grandson too. I used to go to his house to see him and do his garden with Sam and Peter. He gave Sam away to me on my wedding day on 25th May, 2019. His family invited me to his 90th birthday party with Sam and other friends. I went to Morrisons sometimes on a Sunday with him after church at the Salvation Army and Snack and Chat on Tuesdays and Cameo on Mondays and do the garden at the church on a Saturday and we would all go out with Sam and Laurence in Laurence’s car to places. I would go to the Men in Church group with him on Tuesday nights and we once went to Chester Zoo and he would sometimes come to Choices youth group on Thursday nights I will miss him loads. RIP Bill.
A great Man of God, now with his Lord and at rest. God bless, Bill.
Remember Bill and Sheila moving to Bootle with John & Peter, and there are good memories from those days.
It has been good in recent years to catch up Angela, before she died, and hear about what Bill was ‘up to’ and to read of his witness when he played the Last Post each year.
Bill was a faithful soldier in The Salvation Army, but more so a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ, from who, I have no doubt, he has heard the words – Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
Praying God’s blessings and comfort for John & Peter and the rest of the family during these days.
Our sincere condolences to all the family at this time.
I have such fond memories of growing up alongside Angela, John and Peter. Quite often walking over to Bill and Sheila’s house from the Salvation Army Hall, as it was just a short walk. As you entered their home you were always made welcome.
Bill had that wonderful ability to make you feel you were the most important person to have walked into their home or into the Army Hall. You would often hear him laughing and making people smile, his laugh was so contagious I would end up laughing, even though I would have no knowledge of what the conversation was about.
Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers. Rob, Christina, Richard, Andrea and Natalie Lamb.