Col Zack Enoch Osborne, Usaf (Ret.)

Colonel Zack Enoch Osborne, USAF (Ret.) entered into rest with his Heavenly Father on April 9, 2023 in Warner Robins, Georgia at the age of 83. He was born in Galax, Virginia on November 15, 1939 to Dorothy Cool Osborne and Roscoe Bayron Osborne, the seventh of eight children. He received the BSA Eagle Scout award and graduated from Galax High School before attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University as a member of the Corps of Cadets. Colonel Osborne received both a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a Master of Science degree in Management from Virginia Tech. While on active duty with the USAF, he also completed Squadron Officers School, Command and Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

After his commission in 1963, Colonel Osborne embarked on a series of key assignments including the following: Lockheed GA Company, Wright Patterson AFB, the Pentagon, HQ USAFE at Ramstein AFB, and as Commander of DCAS-Western Electric. He served as Director of Contracting at HQ Military Airlift Command, and finally, as Director of Contracting at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center.

Colonel Osborne’s leadership and accomplishments were recognized, and he was promoted below the zone at both Lt. Colonel and Colonel. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Following his military retirement, Colonel Osborne accepted the position of Director of the Georgia Institute of Technology Procurement Assistance Center. He served Georgia’s business community in this capacity for 17 years. Under his direction, the Center generated more than a billion dollars in federal contracts for Georgia businesses and was recognized as the best Assistance Center in the nation. He retired from Georgia Tech in 2008 with the APTAC Outstanding Member Achievement Award.

A man of great faith, Colonel Osborne served as a deacon, teacher, and choir member in multiple churches, serving in every location of his military assignments. He was an active member of Central Baptist Church for the last 27 years. As an avid community advocate, he served on the Board of the Salvation Army, the Board of the American Red Cross, as President of the Air Force Association - State of Georgia, and as President of the Air Force Association - Southeast Region. He was active in the Rotary Club and the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce.

Colonel Osborne is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Edna Burcham Osborne; daughter, Tara Osborne Martz (Scott) of Knoxville, TN; son, Todd Zackary Osborne (Ann) of St. Augustine, FL; grandchildren: Peyton and Parker Martz, Ella and Abigail Osborne; sister, Mary Burcham (Layne) of Pulaski, VA; brothers, Robert Osborne of Uniontown, OH and Glenn Osborne (Pam) of Rural Hall, NC; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 12, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home. A private family interment service will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Crooked Creek Cemetery in Woodlawn, VA.

For friends unable to attend at this time, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

Memorial donations may be made to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL or to the Central Baptist Church Veterans Memorial.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.