Ralph Osteen
March 26, 1930 — January 17, 2014
Ralph Odell Osteen, age 83, passed away on January 17, 2014, at his home in Brentwood, TN. He was born in Caney Spring, TN to parents Willie Homer Osteen and Pauline Walker Osteen. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Maxine Chambers Osteen, who passed away on July 16, 2013, and his three brothers, Willie H. Osteen, Jr., Frank Donelson Osteen and Robert K. Osteen.
Mr. Osteen is survived by his son, Ralph Osteen Jr. (Amy) of Scottsdale, AZ; daughter, Kathy Osteen Smith (Eddie) of Franklin, TN; son, Jeff Osteen (Beth) of Brentwood, TN; sister, Betty Jane Hallum of Murfreesboro, TN; and six grandchildren, Marissa Smith; Ralph III and Krista Osteen; Jessica, Benjamin and Nicholas Osteen.
After graduating from Forrest High School in Chapel Hill, TN, he attended Middle Tennessee State College, Murfreesboro, TN. There he was captain of the baseball team and a member of the ROTC before graduating in 1953. Mr. Osteen served in the U.S. Army in Fort Knox, KY. He moved to Nashville to begin his career with The Travelers Insurance Company, and worked with the company for 32 years at offices in Nashville, TN, Jacksonville, FL, Tallahassee, FL, Columbia, SC, Wilmington, DE and Chicago, IL. After retiring from The Travelers, he opened his own insurance agency in Brentwood, TN. He served as President of the Board of Trustees at Shults-Lewis Child and Family Services, and as President of the Forrest High School Alumni Association. Ralph was a member of and a deacon at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, Brentwood, TN.
Visitation will be at 1:00pm on Saturday, January 25, at Lawrence Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, TN with services immediately following. James Vandiver will officiate. Burial will follow at the Allen Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Frank Osteen, Mike Hallum, Roger Chambers, Daryl Osteen, Dwayne Osteen and Terry Wolaver. Arrangements will be handled by Lawrence Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.lawrencefuneral.net .
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shults-Lewis Child and Family Services, P.O. Box 471, Valparaiso, IN 46384.