OSCAR "Ozzie": HOVSEPIAN

Oscar Hovsepian was born in his family home in the Delray section of Detroit in 1924 to Armenian genocide survivors Ardashes and Yougaper. He was an alter boy at the original St Sarkis church, and spent many leisurely days at the Zavarian Club. He graduated from Southwestern High School in 1943 and enlisted in the Army soon after. He thought himself one of the fortunate ones to have sailed to and from England on both of biggest ships in the world at the time, the retrofitted Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mary. He arrived in London and immediately lost most of his belongings in a bombing raid!After 3 years in the service, he returned to Detroit and started his life-long love affair with bowling, and of course his wife, Anna Marie. They were married 64 years and raised 2 daughters, Karin and Margaret, and additionally blessed by the arrival of 2 granddaughters, Dana and Megan, who he loved spending time with teaching them to fish. Ozzie, as he liked to be called, was rarely idle. For most of his life he bowled on 2 leagues a week. He was constantly in pursuit of perfection, and finally got his 300 game when he was 84 years old. When bowling season was over, he pulled out the sticks and joined his golfing buddies several times a week. This continued even as his eyes started to fail and his friends would help, lining up his shots and locating lost balls. If the sun was out, so was Ozzie. Always in his yard, on his boat fishing, on the roof, or napping in the sun between chores, moving his chair over and over to catch the dying light. He also was the consummate Ford Man. He worked at the Dearborn assembly plant for 35 years, and was so proud that he drove not only the very first Mustang off the assembly line, but the millionth one, and was called back to escort the last one off the line when the plant stopped production of Mustangs in 2004. Oz and Ann, who preceded him in death in 2013, loved their summers Up North on Duck Lake, spending every summer there since 1985. He loved his lake family, his little cottage, and his old orange pontoon boat, which he never got rid of despite it dying on him several times and stranding him in the middle of the lake. He supported his Armenian family and community fiercely; he loved gatherings with the Mooradians, the Narsesians, the Sarkisians, and the Sarafians. He loved them all deeply, even going AWOL from his unit in England to track down his cousin Harry who had been shot in France. He managed to find Harry, reports of his injury greatly exaggerated, who then dragged him off to an Armenian Dance Hall for a night of fun. He returned to his unit, but not before losing one of his stripes. He said it was worth it, but also that he had no choice, fearing the wrath of Harry's mother Haiganoosh, more than the Military Police. He also managed to locate his father's side of the family, the Tchelebians, while stationed in France and began the many years of phone calls and visits with his cousins.Much time was also spent with Ann's family in Baltimore, where no visit was complete without bushels of crabs from the Chesapeake Bay. His daughters will remember him as their rock. He was always there, reliable and dependable. He was first their bedtime enforcer, then their protector while growing up, and in adulthood the fixer of all things, and the source of infinite strength and wisdom. He passed away on his 95th birthday, leaving behind daughter, Karin (Dennis) Tartal, daughter Margaret Warren, and granddaughters Dana Warren and Megan Tartal; sister and brother-in-laws Janet and Gus Pschak, beloved nieces, nephews, and a wonderful group of Armenian cousins. I know he would also want to give a nod to all his bowling and golfing teammates over the years, and his long-time friends on Duck Lake. Thank you for joining us in remembrance of Ozzie's life, we love you all very much. VISITATION AND FUNERAL SERVICEVisitation will take place on December 8, Sunday, from 5pm to 8pm, with Dan Gark prayers at 8:00pm in St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, 19300 Ford Rd, Dearborn, MI. The family will also receive friends in the church on Monday, from 10am until time of funeral services at 11:00am. Interment will take place in Acacia Park Cemetery after the Memorial Luncheon in church.MILITARY HONORSU.S. Air Force Military Honors will follow in the church dining room at 12 Noon, Monday, during the Memorial Luncheon, to which all are invited.MEMORIAL DONATIONSThe family suggests that Memorial Donations be sent to St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church. 19300 Ford Rd, Dearborn, MI 48128CONDOLENCESPlease click on the "Share a Memory" and leave a loving tribute to OzzieTHANK YOU

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