George Edward Osko was born September 9, 1912, in Highland Springs, Virginia. He was the first born of the three children of George Osko, Jr and Florence McGee Osko.

The young family moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1917 where George received most of his early schooling. In 1929 the Oskos decided to "go west" and made their next home in Los Angeles, California. After George graduated from Polytechnic High School he attended mechanical engineering school and helped his father in his dry cleaning business. He established several dry cleaning routes for himself and financed his education with the income from them.

In 1935 he became a salesman for Shell Oil Company and eventually opened his own franchise station which he kept until 1941 when he sold it and became engaged in defense work for the war effort as a mechanical engineer at North American Aviation Company in El Segundo, California.

He married Nona Piburn Osko on June 21, 1936 and they continued to live in Los Angeles with their three children and in 1945 they added Nona's brother, Durwin to their family. George made a trip to Salem, Oregon to visit his brother Bill, who was the district Manager for Farmers Insurance in 1949. The visit culminated in a job offer for George to become Bill's assistant and office manager. They worked together for several years and eventually became partners. When Bill decided to became an agent for Farmers, George became the District Manager where he remained until he retired in 1983.

He enjoyed an active retirement with travel both at home and abroad. He and his wife spent several winters in Arizona and California. He was always happy to return "home" to Salem - the city he loved. He kept busy with his hobbies of cars, golf, woodworking, travel and his most special interest - his growing family.

George and Nona moved to Willamette Lutheran Retirement Community in 1997, where they enjoyed the company and fellowship of several long time friends who also reside there.

Survivors are his wife, Nona, to whom he was married for 70 1/2 years; daughter, Eileen and her husband Bob Rosholt; daughter, Joan Osko, son, Gordon Osko; foster son, Durwin and his wife Starla Piburn;twelve grandchildren; and fourteen adoreable great-grand-children also survive.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30pm Thursday, December 21st, at Saint Mark Lutheran Church at Marion and Winter Streets in Salem. Remeberances and memorial gifts may be directed to the church or the charity of choice. Virgil T. Goldenl Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.