My father was a man of few words, but very articulate when he did speak. During the 1950s he was frequently asked to speak at various AA conventions and local prisons regarding alcoholism.
Although he didn't finish grammar school, he was a genius when it came to mathematics--all done in his head. He worked early on as a master auto mechanic...owning a number of gas stations in Vallejo, CA. During the 1950s he and a friend had a mining claim on the Russian River. As I remember it, they spent more time drinking beer and playing cards than panning for gold.
In his later years he moved to Sacramento and then to Oroville, WA where he purchased property to farm and hoped to plant apple trees. He wanted to establish his own apple orchard. He loved working on old cars and reading westerns until his death from emphysema and lung cancer.
He married Ethel Elaine Fears in May 1941 and they moved to Vallejo, CA where two of his brothers worked at Mare Island. He and Elaine had two children: a daughter (1942) and Patrick Wayne (1948-1948). He and Elaine later divorced in 1958.
He was living in Tonasket, Washington and married to Marge Haney at the time of his death.
Sources: Death Cert; various censuses.
Note: Contributor Brzick #48192333 suggested Potlatch, Latah County, Idaho as place of birth which comes from birth certificate 019802
My father was a man of few words, but very articulate when he did speak. During the 1950s he was frequently asked to speak at various AA conventions and local prisons regarding alcoholism.
Although he didn't finish grammar school, he was a genius when it came to mathematics--all done in his head. He worked early on as a master auto mechanic...owning a number of gas stations in Vallejo, CA. During the 1950s he and a friend had a mining claim on the Russian River. As I remember it, they spent more time drinking beer and playing cards than panning for gold.
In his later years he moved to Sacramento and then to Oroville, WA where he purchased property to farm and hoped to plant apple trees. He wanted to establish his own apple orchard. He loved working on old cars and reading westerns until his death from emphysema and lung cancer.
He married Ethel Elaine Fears in May 1941 and they moved to Vallejo, CA where two of his brothers worked at Mare Island. He and Elaine had two children: a daughter (1942) and Patrick Wayne (1948-1948). He and Elaine later divorced in 1958.
He was living in Tonasket, Washington and married to Marge Haney at the time of his death.
Sources: Death Cert; various censuses.
Note: Contributor Brzick #48192333 suggested Potlatch, Latah County, Idaho as place of birth which comes from birth certificate 019802
Family Members
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Gerald Edward Austin
1912–2003
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Kenneth Lee "Scoop" Austin
1915–2000
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Floyd Joseph Austin
1916–1985
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Pershing Frederick Austin
1918–1996
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Margaret Ida "Peggy" Austin Friedrich
1919–2011
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Harold Lafayette Austin
1921–1994
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Janice Harriet Austin Cunningham
1922–2011
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Allen Ralph Austin
1923–2011
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Phyllis Jean "Sarah Jane" Austin
1925–1927
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Virginia Rose "Ginger" Austin Kurtzhall
1926–2001
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Thomas Clark Austin
1927–2002
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Richard Henry Austin
1928–2016
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Roberta Elaine "PeeWee" Austin O'Hara
1930–1994
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