William Austin

William R. "Bill" Austin, age 93, of Erie, died Monday, February 18, 2013 at Independence Court of Erie.

Bill was born in Erie, May 13, 1919, son of the late Roy and Ethel Cowley Austin.

He graduated from Academy High School in 1937 and went on to graduate from Erie Conservatory of Music majoring in piano. Bill was an Army Captain during WW II and served on the South Pacific Amphibious squadron.

He retired from Dispatch Printing where he was a printer and engraver and worked as a proof reader and the camera department setting of the Erie/Chautauqua Magazine.

Bill was active in the Academy High School reunion committee. He was a devout Christian and very active in the Immanuel Baptist Church. He played several instruments and enjoyed writing music. People knew him as a very generous man. He was a computer wiz and a ham radio operator with the handle WB3IFE.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, E. Harriet Green Austin in 1997; sisters, Lillian Spusta, Ruth Heberle, Jean Norman, Helen Reese; a brother, Charles Austin; a daughter-in-law, Shirley Austin; and two grandchildren, Wendy Geer and Steven Austin.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Shannon L. Geer and husband, Stan of Rochester, NY; two sons, John "Jack" Austin and wife, Nina, and Thomas Austin, all of Erie; his sister, Joyce Badaracco of East Springfield. He is further survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home, 3801 West 26th Street (at Powell Avenue) on Wednesday from 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral service will be there at the All Faiths Chapel on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. with the Reverend Randy Elliott officiating.

Burial will be at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Erie City Mission, P.O. Box 407, Erie, PA 16512 or to the Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of Erie County, 2253 W. Grandview Blvd., Erie, PA 16506.

Bill's family would like to thank Asera Care Hospice for their wonderful care and the staff of Independence Court for their loving care.