Robert Oswald, the brother of Lee Harvey Oswald, is known for his life after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He dealt with the stigma of his brother’s infamy and maintained a low profile, working in various jobs and occasionally speaking about his brother in interviews. He passed away on November 27, 2017, at the age of 83.
Robert Edward Lee Oswald was born on April 7, 1934, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the older brother of Lee Harvey Oswald, who was accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. After the assassination, Robert’s life was inevitably altered by the actions of his brother. He faced the challenge of living with the notoriety associated with the Oswald name, which affected his personal and professional life.
Despite the tumultuous events, Robert tried to maintain a sense of normalcy. He served in the Marine Corps, like his brother, but his service was not marred by controversy. Throughout his life, he worked in various capacities, including in the sales and marketing fields. He was known to be private, but he did engage with the media and researchers on occasion to discuss his brother and the assassination. He wrote a book titled “Lee: A Portrait of Lee Harvey Oswald by His Brother,” which was published in 1967, offering his perspective on his brother’s life and the events that led to the assassination.
Robert Oswald was a family man, married to Vada Mercer Oswald, with whom he had three children. He lived in Wichita Falls, Texas, for many years. His efforts to lead a quiet life were often disrupted by continued public interest in the Kennedy assassination and conspiracy theories that surrounded his brother.
In his later years, Robert remained mostly out of the public eye. His death in 2017 marked the end of a life that was deeply affected by one of the most significant events in American history. His passing was noted by those interested in the Kennedy assassination, as he was one of the last surviving members of the Oswald family who had firsthand knowledge of Lee Harvey Oswald.