Wallace Griffin Osborne's Obituary
WALLACE GRIFFIN OSBORNE
A FINAL REFLECTION
Written by Wallace Griffin Osborne, himself. Final edits by the family.
“W.G.” Osborne was born July 4, 1927 to Manuel Osborne and Mary Dell Tatman Osborne in Beaumont, Texas. He departed this life on December 9, 2024. He married his college girlfriend, Dorris Smith, in 1952. To this union one daughter, Arnaye DeMerle Osborne, and one son, Wallace Glen Osborne, were born. Dorris and Arnaye preceded him in death. He received his early education from the Beaumont Independent School District. After graduation from Charlton Pollard High School in 1944, finishing fifth in a class of 122, he received a scholarship to Prairie View A & M University. He spent one and one half years at Prairie View before he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served for two and one half years and then returned to Prairie View to finish his education, In 1950, he received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. Furthermore, he earned two master degrees from Prairie View in chemistry and administration. National Science Foundation grants afforded his additional studies at the University of California – Berkley, University of Minnesota, Hope College, Oklahoma State University, University of Denver, and Lamar Tech University. The Shell Merit Teacher Award furthered his post graduate work at Stanford University.
His teaching career was begun in 1951 at Hebert High School as a biology and chemistry instructor. Later, he became Head of the Science Department. Additionally, he served as Athletic Director and Assistant Principal from September 1958 to January 1968. He moved to California and became Principal of Garden Oaks Junior High School in East Palo Alto, California in February of 1968. In 1975, he became Principal of Thomas Russell Junior High School in Milpitas, California. In 1980, he became Director of State and Federal Program for the Milpitas Unified School District. He returned to Texas in 1983 to reactivate his Texas retirement. After three years of service in the Texas system, he retired from both Texas
and California school systems. W.G. was affiliated with the following professional and civic organizations: Human Relation Commissioner – Alameda County – for City of Fremont, CA; Fremont, CA Unified School District Affirmative Action Committee, Milpitas, CA Unified District Affirmative Action Committee;
Menlo Park, CA Kiwanis: Stanford University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa; Association of
California School Administrators; Texas School Administrators; National Education Association
and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
To cherish his memory, he leaves a son Wallace Glen Osborne of Manteca, CA, daughter-in-law
Mylene Osborne, grandson Artino Sowunmi of San Leandro, CA, granddaughter-in-law Aleah
Sowunmi, great-grandson Alvontae Sowunmi, great-granddaughter Arnaiya Sowunmi, and other
relatives and friends.
W.G., Wally, Ace, Dad, Grandad, Grand-Pops will be forever
missed, remembered, and loved
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