Charles Osborn
Age - 96
June 2, 2023
Charles A. Osborn Jr. , of Prospect, Kentucky passed away peacefully at home on May 31, 2023. He was 96.
Born on February 2, 1927 in Dallas, Texas as the only child to Charles A. Osborn, Sr. and Vera Mae Dowdy Osborn, Charles Jr. would go on to lead a singular life. Educated at Baylor and then at Southwestern, Charles married Emma Carolyn Smith and began his professional journey as a Baptist preacher in Texas. He and Emma welcomed four children, after which he eventually left the clergy to pursue business interests. Charles entered long-term health care in 1965 when he founded National Heritage. The company would eventually own and operate 26 long-term care and retirement housing centers. He sold National Heritage to Southmark Corporation in 1985. After the sale, Charles guided the new company from its IPO through its listing on the NYSE as chairman and CEO.
A serial entrepreneur with diverse interests, Charles helped build a house boat manufacturing business in the 1970s called Kings Craft. His professional focus turned to Louisville in the 1980s, where he developed the full-service health and sports club, Blairwood. He was also an active investor in Heleringer's Furniture and owned and operated Remington's, a fine dining restaurant. Charles is also credited with developing a number of commercial and residential real estate projects, most notably as a founder of the national award-winning mixed-use community of Norton Commons.
Charles was known for his love of aviation and was the driving force behind the Aviation Heritage Airshow at the Clark County, IN airport in the 1990s. The show brought the likes of Chuck Yeager, the first person to create a sonic boom and break the sound barrier, to the region and gave attendees an up close look at vintage "War Birds. " He was also involved in the early productions of the air show portion of Thunder Over Louisville.
Charles remarried Mary Taylor "Mimi" Osborn later in life. After the passing of Mimi to cancer in 2010, Charles made a generous gift to Baptist Hospital East to help the hospital assemble all its cancer services under one roof with the establishment of the Charles and Mimi Osborn Cancer Center.
For the last decade, Charles enjoyed philanthropy, family, travel, aviation and cars in his retirement.
Aside from Mimi, Charles is predeceased by parents Charles Osborn and Vera Mae Dowdy Osborn, and former wife and the mother of his four children, Emma Carolyn Walter. He is survived by sons Charles A. Osborn III (Linda), Colin Osborn, and daughters Caron Osborn and Cynthia Osborn Matullo (Glenn); grandchildren Lindsey Porter (W. Ashley), Marilyn Osborn Patterson (Adam), Haley Osborn (Leonardo), Michael Osborn, Raegan Osborn (Austin), Savannah Miller Blake (Matthew), Matthew Osborn, and Alex Matullo; and eight great-grandchildren.
A visitation will take place June 7 from 1-4 p. m. at Highlands Family-Owned Funeral Home at 3331 Taylorsville Road. A service will follow at 4 p. m.Show more
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