Mary Anna Osburn

January 6, 1943 - December 1, 2021

Mary Anna Osburn was born Jan 6, 1943 when it was 20° below zero in Elkhart, Indiana to Harry Breese and Minnie Louise (Smith) Sampsell. After a courageous battle, she died Dec 1 of multiple complications at Transitions Hospice in Raleigh, North Carolina. She grew up in Elkhart, and after doing her first year at Stephens College, got her BA degree in English at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois in 1965 and went to work in the Purdue University Libraries. There she held a number of positions, including the Aviation Technology library and the International Programs division. While living in West Lafayette, Indiana she also volunteered to help in the Head Start program and help lead the high school youth group at church. In 1970 she left the Midwest for northern Westchester County, New York, where she continued her volunteer work. With the league of women voters, she served on a panel researching alternative energy technologies. In addition, as part of the inter-faith council, she was one of the organizers of the Croton-on-Hudson, community blood bank program, one of the earliest community blood banks in the country. Mary Anna loved the sociability of walking and running, and, right after moving to North Carolina in 1983, joined the North Carolina Roadrunners Club, where she was a regular at several different group runs each week, until her legs could no longer stand the strain. She gave back by working in the club office, assisting in race registration and volunteering in other activities, She served on the board was later elected as the first woman president of the club. She had wide ranging interests and hobbies. As an avid reader, she would get books by the box-full rather than by the volume—and she enjoyed book discussion groups. The interest in books also led to a strong interest in films—particularly those that would spark a good discussion. She loved beaches, especially National Seashores, and traveled both east and west coasts sampling as many as possible. She became especially interested in antiques and collectibles, was a regular at local flea markets and traveled to antique shows, extravaganzas, malls and shops throughout the country and worldwide in the thrilling hunt for “treasures”, which as the saying goes “she didn’t need, couldn’t afford, and didn’t have room to store”. At home, she loved her cats and always wanted them to be around her. Mary Anna married Carlton Osburn in Elkhart, Indiana on August 28, 1965. He survives as well as a sister-in-law Susan (Fred) Hopkins along with numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews and many dear friends. At her request there will not be a memorial service, but those wishing to honor her memory can do so by making a donation to your favorite charity.