Benjamin Owen Osenton

Benjamin Owen Osenton of Valrico, Florida, passed away on March 21, 2023, after a long battle with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, at the age of 27.  Ben is survived by his mother, Lesa E. Pysell Osenton, his father, O. Reginald Osenton, his bonus mom, Andreana (Annie) C. Osenton; his grandmother, Phyllis McCane Osenton, of Charleston, West Virginia; his sisters, Lauren E. Osenton, Ashley N. Hlavaty-Garcia, Kayla L. Post, Brianna H. O’Neal and Savannah L. O’Neal all of the Tampa Bay, Florida area; and a host of special aunts, uncles, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Owen L. Osenton, Harold F. Pysell and Mary Loya Pysell.

Ben was born on October 2, 1995, in Charleston, West Virginia, residing in Logan, West Virginia, until he relocated to the Tampa Bay area with his family at the age of eight. He graduated from Durant High School in 2014, and was elected prom king by his classmates his senior year.  Earlier that same year he earned the rank of Eagle Scout as an active member of Boy Scout Troop 11.  Ben’s Eagle Scout service project was coordinating the distribution of the children’s book Mooseman and Beagle Boy Save the Children to local hospitals and physicians’ offices.  Ben wrote and illustrated the book, a story where the characters Ben created developed a cure for childhood cancer.   

Ben’s favorite activities included numerous trips to Disney World, especially with his mother, and attending Tampa Bay Lightning games, where he was a season ticket member.  He was an avid and dedicated fan of West Virginia University sports, as well as the University of Florida, which Ben adopted as his home team upon relocating to Florida.  Ben attended numerous Nascar races at various tracks on the circuit as a fan of Tony Stewart, whom Ben spent time with at Charlotte Motor Speedway through the Make a Wish program.  Ben was an active and dedicated member of Bay Life Church in Brandon, Florida.

A celebration of Ben’s life was held on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home in Brandon, Florida.  Visitation for Ben’s West Virginia family and friends will be held at Akers James Funeral Home in West Logan, West Virginia, on Saturday, April 8, 2023, beginning at 11:00 a.m., followed by a graveside service at the Osenton Family Section of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Pecks Mill, West Virginia, at 12:30.

Pallbears will be Lesa Osenton, Reggie Osenton, Mike Luna, Kenny Trent, Cole Post, and Jason Wian Jr.