ROBERT FRANKLIN AUSTIN
May 20, 1925 — November 10, 2009
ROBERT FRANKLIN AUSTIN, resident of the Oakland Community, retired Field Supervisor for the Memphis Light Gas & Water Department and United States Veteran passed away Tuesday evening, November 10, 2009 at the home of a son in Bartlett. He was 84 years of age and died following an extended illness.
Funeral services for Mr. Austin were conducted at 10 A.M. Monday, November 16th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Rev. Carl Meyer, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Oakland, officiating. Interment with Military Honors followed in the Memphis Memory Gardens Cemetery on Raleigh La Grange Road. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-West Chapel of Oakland.
Born May 20, 1925 in the Lambert Community of Fayette County, Mr. Austin received his education in the Braden School District.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Lee Morgan Austin and parents William Franklin and Cornelia Cocke Austin.
A World War II Veteran, Mr. Austin entered the military in 1943 and served with the 4th Marine Division at Marianas Islands, Rio-Namur, Tinian, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. After the war he resided in Memphis but moved back to Oakland in 1975.
After 35 years Mr. Austin retired from the Memphis Light Gas & Water Department in 1984.
A member of the Oakland First Baptist Church, Mr. Austin was a charter member of Fairlawn Baptist Church in Memphis and a member of the American Legion in Memphis.
An "outdoorsman" who loved nature, gardening and travel, Mr. Austin delighted in his grandchildren.
His survivors include his daughter, Pamela S. Austin Davis of Cordova; three sons: Michael Joe Austin of Cordova, Robert Stephen Austin of Bartlett, and Thomas Allen Austin of Oakland; his sister, Annette Austin Blumberg of Memphis; two brothers, Allen Murray Austin of Oakland and Durward Fouche Austin of Whiteville; nine grandchildren: Tim Austin, Paul Austin, Randy McDonald, Corrie McDonald LaGrone, Jacob Austin, Jessica Austin Mashburn, Chris Austin, Kimberly Storz, and Natalie Davis Karch and 13 great grandchildren.
Those honored to serve as casket bearers were Timothy Austin, Paul Austin, Randy McDonald, Jacob Austin, Christopher Austin, Gregory La Grone and Noah Austin.
Raymond Setters, Ottis Hill, Carl Doyle, Herbert "Mac" McElrovey, Bob White and Robert Smith were honorary casket bearers.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942; Phone: 1-800-805-5856.