Frank Osuna

Frank Encinas Osuna, the “Rev. O”, entered heaven on July 11, 2011. Frank lived a wonderful and adventurous life which took him from the fields to the pulpit. He is preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Maria Luisa, and infant daughter, Martha. He is survived by his son, Frank, Jr. and daughters, Rebecca, Ruth (Julio) and Linda (Victor). He was a proud grandfather of Theresa, Carlos (Terry), Andrea (Renee), Emilio (Susie) and Sara. He is also survived by his great grandchildren, Analissa, Celeste, Angel, Carlos, Andrew, Jacob, Edgar and Alexavier. Rev. Osuna was born on July 28, 1923 in Tombstone, Arizona to Francisco A. Osuna and Dolores Encinas Osuna. During the Great Depression, Frank moved with his family to Marinette which is now known as Sun City. There the family picked cotton and thrived in the migrant camps living in tents. Frank later served in the Army during World War II as did his five brothers. Upon returning from war, he helped his father and mother purchase a family home in Peoria which continues to be in the ownership of the Osuna family. At the urging of his father and while working as an airplane mechanic at Luke Air Force Base, Frank attended Phoenix College and Arizona State University. Upon graduation from ASU in 1960, he took his bride and three children to Iowa to attend the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. He was an ordained Presbyterian minister and worked for the Arizona Migrant and Indian Ministry and later served as pastor of the Guadalupe Presbyterian Church until his retirement. Frank was a man of many talents and a passionate story teller with a keen ability to remember people, dates and times. His family sums up his life by these simple words, service to God and others. If you asked Frank, he would say his life was a “home run”. He was always active in his church and community. In most recent years and until the last two months, he enjoyed volunteering at the Peoria Arizona Historical Society every Sunday afternoon and every other Saturday helping to distribute food at a St. Mary’s Food Bank satellite location in Peoria. Frank’s life of service to God, his family and community will be celebrated on Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Central Christian Church, 8600 W. Glendale Avenue, Glendale. A viewing will be held from 9-10 a.m. with a memorial service beginning at 10:15 a.m. A brief burial ceremony will follow at Resthaven Park Cemetery, 6290 W. Northern Avenue, Glendale. Menke Funeral & Cremation Center, 12420 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City, is handling all of the funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Food Bank or the Peoria Arizona Historical Society.