Richard Osberg
June 2, 1923 – May 18, 2009

Richard P. Osberg of Lompoc died Monday, May 18, 2009, at the age of 85.

Dick was born June 2, 1923 in Riverside, Illinois to Christian and Christina Osberg, the youngest of ten children. After graduating from Riverside Brookfield High School he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp. During WWII he was stationed in Pisa, Italy with the 345th Fighter Squadron, the "Devilhawks", flying a P-47 in the Mediterranean theatre.

Dick learned to appreciate the dynamics of electricity from his father, who worked with Thomas Edison. When Dick returned to the United States he completed his education by graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in Engineering. After graduating he went to work for Electromotive designing train locomotives. He later worked for various divisions of General Motors helping to design the guidance systems for the Apollo moon missions and the Titan rocket projects among other aerospace and national defense programs. Dick retired from Delco Electronics in Goleta in 1980.

Formerly of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Goleta, Dick has been a resident of Lompoc since 1989. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Riverside, Illinois, the Lompoc Elk's Lodge #2274, and a charter member of the Village Country Club. He loved to golf, enjoyed skiing, hunting, fishing, and making improvements to his home.

Dick is survived by his wife of 55 years Frances, his daughter Margaret "Meg" Mersereau-Andrews of Lompoc, son and daughter-in-law Chuck and Gina Osberg of Lompoc, sister Margaret Ryan of Naples, Florida, and five grandchildren, Katie, Hannah and her husband Calvin, Nick, Alex and Sam as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Dick will be sorely missed by his family and many life-long friends.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 31st at the Village Country Club. Cremation arrangements will be made through Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.