My Pap-pa, William Glenn Austin, Sr., passed away on June 17. My whole family was in Utah at the time getting ready for our family reunion. My parents cut their trip short so they could drive home in time for the viewing and funeral. I was so sad that I wasn't able to go to his funeral. He passed away exactly 4 months (to the hour) after his wife did. He was so lonely without her and wasn't able to recover after he became very sick with pulmonary fibrosis. I was heartbroken that I didn't get to see Pap-pa again and have him meet Katie. He never met his great-grandson and namesake, William G. Austin, IV either. My parents said his funeral was good. He had Masonic last rites and a 21-gun salute. They also played "Danny Boy", which is his favorite song. He orginally had wanted me to play it on the piano, but since I was unable to be there, they played a recorded version of it.
I wanted to save his obituary here:
William G. Austin, age 84, of Evansville, passed away, Friday, June 17, 2011 at the Parkview Care Center. Mr. Austin had worked for Whirlpool, Stop-N-Go on First Avenue and had retired from Schnuck’s Grocery. Bill was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, a longtime member of the Westside Nut Club and the Elks Lodge. He had received his 53 year pin as a Mason and was a member of Lessing Lodge. Bill had served his country as a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II. Surviving Bill are two sons, Bill (Jane) Austin, Jr. of Newbern, TN and Mike Austin of Boonville; two stepsisters, Cindy Bawlin and Glenda Pfeiffer, both of Evansville; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Louise Austin on February 17, 2011 and a great-grandson, Jonathon Pfettscher.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at Pierre Funeral Home, Rev. Gene Feagan officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, where the Vanderburgh County Retired Veterans Memorial Club will conduct military rites. Friends may visit with the family from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M. on Friday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street, where there will be Masonic Service held at 6:30 P.M. Friends may also visit with the family from 9:00 A.M. until service time on Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church or to the Westside Nut Club Foundation. Condolences may be made online at
www.pierrefuneralhome.com.
A few thoughts on my grandpa:
My Pap-pa was born May 3, 1927 in Princeton, Indiana and had one sister, Joe Ann. They were raised by their grandparents for most of their childhood. His first job when he was 14 was to stick wires in the back of a hay bailer. He was paid 75 cents per day. (Crazy!) A few other jobs as a teenager were detassling corn (earned 50 cents/hour), setting pins at a bowling alley (earned 5 cents/game), and racking pool for 5 cents a rack. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 when he was 17 and served for about two years. He married his wife, Louise (whom he sometimes called Ruthie), March 21, 1945. A few of his hobbies were bicycling, leather working, reading, yard work and gardening, and collecting guns and knives. When visiting them when I was younger I remember he was frequently reading a western book or watching a John Wayne movie. I still have a little leather purse with matching coin pouch that he stamped and painted and gave to me when I was around ten years old. He definitely passed on his love of dark chocolate to my dad and to most of my siblings and me. He was always bringing us bags of Dove dark chocolates. Pap-pa had nicknames for all his grandchildren. Mine was Little K. I have fond memories of all the time I spent with him and my grandma. He was a wonderful grandfather and I will miss him!!
with his sons Mike (on the left) and Bill
3 generations of William Glenn Austin
Dec. 2008 (last pic with P&M)
I wanted to post some of the same questions that I did for Mam-ma. These are from an interview I did with my grandparents when I was in high school. (Probably around '98-'99.)
Where is the most exciting place you have ever been? What made it exciting?
"The pub in Suffolk 'cause that's where I met Ruthie."
What did you think of Mam-ma when you first saw her?
"It was love at first sight. I knew that's the one I wanted; I didn't need to look anymore."
What is your secret for good health?
"Good clean thoughts for good clean living. Eating right (vitamins and garlic)."
What is your personal secret for happiness?
"Being myself and being a positive realist."
What is your advice to those younger than you?
"Be true to yourself. Lead a good life."
Wow, I still can't believe they are both gone. I miss them so much! I look forward to the day when I will see them again. I love you Pap-pa and Mam-ma!!
