Ralph Wayne Osborne, 85, of Powdersville, South Carolina, loving husband of Janice Osborne, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, September 7, 2026.

Wayne was born in Washington, North Carolina on November 8, 1940. He was the only child of Rev. Ralph Felton and Omadell Jackson Osborne. He grew up in Pinetown, NC and graduated from High School in Ahoskie, NC. Being fortunate to grow up in a pastor's home, he heard the gospel of salvation from birth. He was a shy boy growing up, and as a result of this, was 15 years old before he let go of his firm grip on the church pew in front of him to 'go forward' on a Sunday morning as the congregation sang: "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling. Calling for you and for Me. Why do you linger and heed not His mercies, mercies for you and for me. Come home--come home--ye who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling. Calling, O, sinner come home."

That day his life was changed by his faith and trust in the shed blood of Christ on the cross. Did he live a perfect life after that? No, but he held fast to II Timothy 1:12, “I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that Jesus is able to guard what has been entrusted to me, until that day.... when I see HIM in Heaven face to face.”

He was predeceased by his parents, and a grandson, Noah Gravitt Osborne.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 58 years, Janice Gravitt Osborne, who faithfully cared for him following his diagnosis with dementia in March 2014. He is also survived by his three children and eight grandchildren: daughter, Marya Curtis and her husband, Jason, and their sons, Evan Curtis and his wife, Taylor, Will Curtis and his wife, Emily, and David Curtis; daughter, DeLynda Hicks and her daughters, Samantha Hicks and her husband, Lucas Pennell, and Danielle Hicks; and son Eric Osborne and his wife, Amber, and their children, Elijah Osborne, Ainsley Osborne, and Laney Osborne.

Wayne graduated from Bob Jones University in 1963 and retired from a career in retail in 2006, having worked as manager with both J.C. Penney Co, and Walmart. He was a charter member of Palmetto Baptist Church of Powdersville, serving as deacon until his illness required that he resign. He was known for his dry wit, and often enjoyed entertaining church supper clubs at his home with Janice, his wife, loved to travel, and in 2013, spent six weeks in seeing all of the United States (except three), visited Mexico, Nassau Bahamas, England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, but his favorite vacation spot was clearly Hilton Head and bike riding. Ever since his college days, he has had a tender heart for missions, both locally and globally.

Wayne was always at the forefront in the planning of church social events, and the first to welcome newcomers to church. He took Proverbs 18:24 literally: "A man that hath friends must himself be friendly." It is not well known that, at one time, Wayne played a 'decent strain of music' on his 1701 violin.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in the Chapel of Robinson Funeral Home – Powdersville Road. Burial will follow the service in Robinson Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until 10:45 AM on Saturday at the funeral home prior to the service.

The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed by clicking here. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CDI (Christian Discipleship International), www.cdimin.org, or to the Building Fund of Palmetto Baptist Church, 2730 Anderson Road, Greenville, South Carolina 29611.

He will be greatly missed as the Patriarch of the Osborne Family.

We will see you again soon.

Visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home & Crematory – Powdersville Road, Easley.