Elizabeth Osenbaugh

Elizabeth 'Betty' Ryan Grigsby Osenbaugh, 95, of Norwood, Iowa, passed away at the Good Samaritan Care Facility, Indianola, Iowa, on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. She was born March 25, 1918 in the Blue Ridge Mountains area near Berryville, Virginia. She was the daughter of John Grigsby and Elizabeth 'Bess' (Ryan) Grigsby and grew up on their farm on the banks of the Shenandoah River. While attending Strayer Business College in Washington, D.C., Betty worked at the Census Bureau, where she met a young farmer from Iowa. She married William 'Bill' Osenbaugh on April 5, 1941 in Washington, D.C., and moved to the Osenbaugh family farm in Puckerbrush near Norwood, Iowa. Together they raised five children on that farm: John, Elizabeth 'Bess', Charles, Edward and David. Betty was active in the Norwood United Methodist Church, the American Cancer Society and a host of other volunteer and community organizations. Her positive outlook and genuine concern for others touched countless lives throughout Lucas County and beyond. In the Norwood and Puckerbrush communities, Betty and her friends organized showers, weddings and funerals at the country church and served countless potlucks to bring the community together as a extended family. Betty loved cooking up skits and games for these events, keeping spare costumes stocked in the 'junk room' and ideas written up over the years in boxes. As part of the Ladies' Aid, Betty helped organize social events of all kinds and served pies at the auction house in Humeston, Iowa, every month for years. Betty's home was open to everyone in the community and she insisted on keeping all visitors well-fed. She loved to sing and play piano. The annual Christmas Play consumed her with planning and rehearsals for months ahead of time. She had a ready smile and happily greeted anyone who stopped by. She loved the farm and she loved her community. Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill and her daughter Bess. She is survived by her four sons John (Carol), Charles (Kim), Ed (Karen) and David (Dorita); by nine grandchildren Terra Corro (Joe), Amy Porterfield (Clint), Eliza Stewart (Paul), Chelsea, Betsy , Mary Ann, Benjamin, Hayley and Laura; and eight great-grandchildren Taylor, Michaela, Caleb, Walker, Ivy, Zoe, Noah and Bree . Visitation will be at 9 AM on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at the Norwood United Methodist Church in Norwood, Iowa, on Highway 65 north of Lucas. The funeral will follow at 10 AM at the church with burial services at the Norwood Cemetery. Arrangements are being made by Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton, Iowa. Memorials can be made in lieu of flowers to the American Cancer Society or the Norwood United Methodist Church, Lucas, Iowa.