SUFFOLK – William Davis Austin, age 84, went to be with his Lord on Monday, March 23, 2009, in his home in Suffolk. Born in Gates County, N.C. Dec. 27, 1924, he resided in Suffolk. He was the son of Corrie Hollowell Austin and Oscar Lee Austin.
A devout family man, he was a member of Oxford Methodist Church and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War. Bill, or Davis as his family knew him, retired after 38 years as a Naval Architect Technician at the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard and then worked for CDI Marine and Northrop Grumman in Naval Damage Control and Design until his second retirement in 2004 at age 80.
He is survived by is loving wife of 60 years, Gaynell Ford Austin; his three loving daughters, Angela Austin Webb and husband, Skip, of Virginia Beach, Mitzi Austin McCoy and husband, Alan, of Suffolk, Michele Austin Stancill and husband, Ben, of Suffolk; grandchildren, Erica Austin (Webb) Heesch and husband, Matt, and Drew Webb, of Virginia Beach, Daman Stancill and Ashby Stancill, of Suffolk; sisters Mary Lee Dudley, of Newport News, and Margaret Tyler, of Suffolk; brother Meldon Austin, of Richmond; and many nieces and nephews.
A graveside home going celebration will be conducted Thursday, March 26 at 3:30 p.m. at Holly Lawn Cemetery, 1525 N. Main St., Suffolk. The family encourages visitors to visit at the residence.
R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, or www.Banding-Together.org, a family-started nonprofit charity. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.