George Osmond
George Virl Osmond (October 13, 1917 – November 6, 2007) was the patriarch of the singing Osmond family.
George Osmond | |
|---|---|
| Born | George Virl Osmond October 13, 1917 Etna, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Died | November 6, 2007 (aged 90) Provo, Utah, U.S. |
| Other names | Father Osmond |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Virl Osmond Tom Osmond Alan Osmond Wayne Osmond Merrill Osmond Jay Osmond Donny Osmond Marie Osmond Jimmy Osmond |
Life and career
Osmond was born in Etna, Wyoming, the son of Agnes LaVerna (née Van Noy) and Rulon Osmond. Rulon died at age 24 on November 24, 1917, shortly after George was born. A devout Mormon, Osmond served two missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one in Hawaii and the other in the United Kingdom. His grandfather, also named George Osmond, emigrated from England as a young adult and was an early leader in the Latter-day Saint community.
A World War II veteran, he married Olive May Davis on December 1, 1944. The two had nine children: George Jr. (Virl), Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy. Their first two children, Virl and Tom, were born with a degenerative condition which left them nearly deaf. Doctors warned the couple that future children had a higher chance of having a hearing loss, but George and Olive wanted a large family. All of their other children were born hearing.
He worked in real estate, insurance and as a postmaster for the city of Ogden, Utah. He loved to sing and he taught his children to sing barbershop harmony. The children's natural talent received public notice, which led to frequent appearances at church functions and local civil events. he managed his sons careers, gaining an appearance at Disneyland in California. They caught the eye of Walt Disney, who took a personal interest in them. The boys auditioned for Andy Williams, whose show helped launch them into the national spotlight.
As his children's fortunes rose, Osmond put his career aside to focus on the family's musical interests. He moved the family to California to place them closer to the heart of the entertainment industry.
In 2004, his wife Olive died shortly before the couple's 60th anniversary. In addition to their children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, their legacy was the Osmond Foundation, which later became the Children's Miracle Network, the largest charitable organization of its kind serving children's hospitals around the world.
On November 6, 2007, George died at his home in Provo, Utah, of natural causes. Affectionately known as "Father Osmond" to Osmond fans all over the world, he was buried in the East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery in Provo, Utah, beside his wife. Along with the nine children, he was survived by 55 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren.
Children
Osmond had nine children with his wife Olive:
- George Virl Osmond Jr. (born October 19, 1945)
- Tom Osmond (born October 26, 1947)
- Alan Osmond (born June 22, 1949)
- Wayne Osmond (born August 28, 1951)
- Merrill Osmond (born April 30, 1953)
- Jay Osmond (born March 2, 1955)
- Donny Osmond (born December 9, 1957)
- Marie Osmond (born October 13, 1959, sharing the same birthday with her father)
- Jimmy Osmond (born April 16, 1963)