Borrowing a leaf or 2 from Charles Osgood may not be a bad idea after all, seeing that he has a knack for consistency and longevity, especially in his marriage to Jean Osgood and his career as a radio and television commentator.
Jean has been married to Charles for 50 years now and through the first decade together, they welcomed 5 children. Their children are Kathleen, Winston, Annie, Emily, and Jamie.
Now, with her husband retired from his career, she gets to spend ample time with him, eating, napping, and unwinding. They also get some days to spend with their handful of grandkids.
Jean Osgood rejected Charles Osgood’s First Date Proposal
Back when this couple met and before the union we now know and celebrate, Jean Crafton (now Osgood) rejected Charles’ first proposal.
According to the journalist’s long-term wife, Osgood asked her out to a basketball game and she rejected him. To her, that probably did not qualify for a first date and so she turned him down.
Jean’s excuse for not accepting the date was that she had to arrange her sock drawer.
However, Charles definitely did better and most likely asked her out on a proper date later, seeing that now, they are happily married.
The couple got married on December 5, 1973, and have remained so ever since.
Nonetheless, news has it that the former broadcaster was married before his 1973 marriage. The name of the first wife and in fact, her complete identity is not known. However, sites like Charles’ IMDB page carry the speculation that there was indeed a first wife.
Also, when he was fired from WGMS’ pay television station in the United States, sometime in the early 1960s, he had a wife. ‘The Osgood File’ host and his wife had to move in with his parents, Mr. Charles Osgood Woods II and his mother, while he searched for a new job.
There was no mention of them having any kids, so it can be reported that Charles hadn’t any children with his first wife.
When and why the marriage ended isn’t public knowledge but we do know that about a decade later, Charles and Jean (Jeanne) Osgood got married.
They have 5 Children Together
Jean Osgood, nee Crafton is the mother of Charles’ 5 children. The kids consist of 3 girls and 2 boys and they are:
- Kathleen Osgood was born a year after her parent’s marriage, in 1974.
- Winston Osgood who is a year younger than Kathleen was born in 1975
- Annie Osgood who came third and was born in 1977
- Emily Osgood, the fourth child of Jean and Charles was born in 1979
- Jamie Osgood, the last of the brood was born 10 years after Jean and her husband got married, in 1983.
These kids all grew up with their parents in Englewood, New Jersey. Their family was close-knit and they enjoyed a Sunday morning breakfast of great pancakes from their dad when they were still quite young.
Also, being a musician who was skilled in playing grand pianos and banjos, the Osgood children grew up enjoying their father’s songs and plays.
However, they admit there were embarrassing times involving their friends visiting and witnessing their father’s fond habits.
As of 2011, the former CBS News Radio host and his wife were proud grandparents of 5 grandchildren.
Charles Osgood’s Wife’s Reaction to His Retirement News
While Charles Osgood juggled careers on radio and TV as well as being a writer and musician, his wife played the ever-supportive role.
His career spanned over 6 decades moving from radio as a manager then a broadcaster, to TV, and then combining both and adding more to his plate.
While Charles did all these, creating impacts everywhere he went, his wife was always in the background.
She tended to their kids and made sure they didn’t lack parental care while the patriarch of the home was away. Jack had a studio in the United States home as well as in the basement of his house in France where he could broadcast from whenever he was away.
Jean managed to hold down the home front for the 50 years she was married to her husband and when the time for Charles to hang his boots, she was still very supportive.
The couple who has a routine habit of doing things together, including eating lunch and napping till cocktail time, would continue to do that and more with the ‘CBS News Sunday Morning’ former host’s retirement.
When asked what it felt like knowing about her husband’s retirement, she said it was good to know that she would have him around more often.
Clearly, the couple hasn’t gotten over their love fever and are still quite into each other.
