George Osmond
Encyclopedia
George Virl Osmond was the patriarch of the Osmond family
.
George Virl Osmond (Father Osmond) was born in Etna, Wyoming
, the son of Agnes Laverna 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
.
A World War II veteran, on December 1, 1944, he married Olive May Davis
. The two had nine children: Virl, Tom
, Alan
, Wayne
, Merrill
, Jay, Donny
, Marie
and Jimmy
.
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. Osmond managed his sons careers, and gained 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 father 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 and moved the family to California to place them closer to the heart of the entertainment industry.
In 2004, his wife Olive Osmond 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 Virl Osmond 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, Olive. Along with the nine children, Mr. Osmond was survived by 55 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren.
The Osmonds
The Osmonds are an American family music group with a long and varied career—a career that took them from singing barbershop music as children, to achieving success as teen-music idols, to producing a hit television show, and to continued success as solo and group performers...
.
George Virl Osmond (Father Osmond) was born in Etna, Wyoming
Etna, Wyoming
Etna is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 123 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Etna is located at...
, the son of Agnes Laverna and Rulon Osmond. Rulon died at age 24 on November 24, 1917 shortly after George was born. A devout Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
, Osmond served two missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and the other in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
A World War II veteran, on December 1, 1944, he married Olive May Davis
Olive Osmond
Olive May Osmond was the matriarch of the American Osmond singing family, and mother of entertainers Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond....
. The two had nine children: Virl, Tom
Tom Osmond
Thomas Rulon Osmond is the second of the nine Osmond siblings and son of George and Olive Osmond. Tom and his older brother Virl are both hearing impaired....
, Alan
Alan Osmond
Alan Ralph Osmond was a member of the family musical group The Osmonds. He was the oldest of the seven siblings who could sing, as the two oldest brothers, Virl and Tom, are hearing impaired although Tom is currently under treatment. During much of the Osmonds' career, Alan was the leader of the...
, Wayne
Wayne Osmond
Melvin Wayne Osmond is the second oldest of the original Osmond Brothers singers and the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond children. He has been performing since he was six years old and made his national television debut on the Andy Williams Show with brothers, Alan, Merrill, and Jay. They...
, Merrill
Merrill Osmond
Merrill Davis Osmond is the lead singer and bassist of the 1970s music group The Osmonds. He continues to perform with his brothers and also without them as a solo act...
, Jay, Donny
Donny Osmond
Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
, Marie
Marie Osmond
Olive Marie Osmond is an American singer, actress, doll designer, and a member of the show business family The Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family's singing group, she gained success as a solo country music artist in the 1970s and 1980s...
and Jimmy
Jimmy Osmond
James Arthur "Jimmy" Osmond is an American singer, actor, and businessman.-Biography:Jimmy Osmond is the youngest of his siblings and an occasional member of their musical group, The Osmonds. He is the ninth and last child of George and Olive Osmond, and his siblings are Virl, Tom, Alan, Wayne,...
.
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. Osmond managed his sons careers, and gained an appearance at Disneyland in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They caught the eye of Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
, who took a personal interest in them. The boys auditioned for Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
, whose father 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 and moved the family to California to place them closer to the heart of the entertainment industry.
In 2004, his wife Olive Osmond 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
Children's Miracle Network
The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals, medical research and community awareness of children's health issues. The organization, founded in 1982 by the Osmond family and John Schneider, is headquartered in...
, the largest charitable organization of its kind serving children's hospitals around the world.
On November 6, 2007, George Virl Osmond died at his home in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
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
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
beside his wife, Olive. Along with the nine children, Mr. Osmond was survived by 55 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren.