Charles R. “Jack” Austin, of Fulton, died March 8 at his home after a long illness. He was 81.
Funeral service were March 11 at Hornbeak Funeral Chapel with Bro. Cecil May lll officiating. Burial was in Rock Springs Cemetery in Fulton. Hornbeak Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Gertrude Ann Kimbro Austin of Fulton; two daughters, Dr. Ann Austin Ayer of Hartford, and Dr. Betty Jacqueline Austin of Paducah; two grandchildren, Adam Louis Ayer of Titusville, Fla., and Elizabeth Ann Ayer of Hartford; one sister, Jane Austin Burton of Odessa, Tex.; two nephews, David Burton of Odessa, Tex., and Paul Burton of Littlefield, Tex.; one niece, Jennifer Burton Baxter of Houston, Tex., and three great nieces and a great nephew.
He was preceded in death, by his parents, Marguerite Hancock and Oscar Wales Austin.
He was born Aug. 18, 1928 in Hickman County. He was a member of Parkway Church of Christ in Fulton and was a seedsman and farmer. He served in the Korean War in the U.S. Army. He was co-owner of Austin Seed Company in Cayce, owner of West Kentucky Seed company in Cayce and Austin Farm and Seed Company in Fulton and was a sales manger at Caudill Seed Co. in Louisville, for five years. He was assistant for the Secretary of Agriculture in Frankfort.
He served as past chairman of West Kentucky Water District and was a pilot and chairman of Fulton Airport for many years and remained a director until his death. He served as past president of Kentucky Seedsman’s Association in 1981-82 and was a Master Conservationist in 1984-85. He was also a Kentucky Colonel. He had lived in this area all of his life.
Tributes may be left online at .
www.hornbeak.com
Memorials may be made to Parkway Church of Christ, P. O. Box 1642, Fulton, Ky. 42041 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105-1942.
