Merrill J. "Doc" Osborn, D.O.

December 10, 1915 - March 10, 2015

Merrill J. "Doc" Osborn, D.O., 99 years old of Willshire, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 in the Van Wert County Hospital. He was born on Friday, December 10, 1915 in Delaware County, Ohio the son of the late Ralph H. Osborn and the late Lucy E. (Adams) Osborn. He married Mary E. Cox on March 31, 1939 in Kirksville, Missouri and she preceded him in death on September 10, 2009. He married Carolyn (Goodpaster) Heller on April 16, 2011 in Calvary Baptist Church in Berne, Indiana. Doc served his country in the United States Navy during WWII serving in the Atlantic Theatre. He attended Praise Point Church in Willshire, Ohio and was a member of the Willshire Masonic Lodge; the American Legion Post #207 in Willshire; and the Eagles Lodge in Rockford, Ohio. He also served on the Van Wert County Board of Health for over 55 years. He volunteered at the CHP Adult Day Service in Van Wert, Ohio for ten years. He enjoyed flying his private airplane. In 1952 he converted his barn haymow into a full sized basketball court for many generations of children to play basketball. In 1954 he started the Farm Baseball League in Willshire, Ohio, where he was very successful for many years. Doc was a graduate of Brown High School. He attended Ohio Wesleyan University and received his medical degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine & Surgery. He and his wife, Mary, moved to Willshire, Ohio in September of 1939. He set up his medical practice on September 10, 1939 in Willshire, Ohio where he practiced until his retirement in 1997. He served the community and surrounding areas for 58 years as an Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon. He was on staff at the Van Wert County Hospital until 1997 and after retirement was considered an honorary staff member. Surviving are his wife, Carolyn Osborn of Willshire, OH; daughter, M. Deanne (John) Taylor of Austin, TX; son, M. Dean (Joann) Osborn of Cincinnati, OH; son, Daryl E. (Candace) Osborn, D.V.M. of Wapakoneta, OH; daughter, Deborah O. (Dan) Schmidt of Willshire, OH; step-daughter, Jennifer Shinn of Van Wert, OH; step-son, Christopher Shinn of Mendon, OH; 13 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and one great great-grandchild. Preceding Merrill in death were a son, RC Duane Osborn; a granddaughter, Amy Osborn; a step-daughter, Melinda Shinn; and two sisters, his twin, Martha Swartz and older sister, Ruth Toluba. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2015 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur with Pastor Brad Kittle officiating. Interment will follow in the Willshire Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 13 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur. Preferred memorials are to Gideon's International .