Wayne Benton Austin

Wayne Benton Austin, 91, of Abilene, passed away on Monday, January 28, 2019 in Abilene.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday January 30, 2019 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 31, 2019 at the Wylie Baptist Church with his grandson Bobby Austin and Pastor Mike Harkrider, officiating.   Interment will follow in the Iberis Cemetery under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Wayne was born on July 1, 1927 in the New Hope Community in Jones County, Texas to the late G.W. and Lola (Ellis) Austin. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1944. After graduating from high school at the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on October 10, 1944. He served as an electrician aboard the USS Estes. He was discharged on July 2, 1946 with an honorable discharge. After serving in the Navy, he and Lola Hill were married on November 1, 1947 in Abilene. Wayne was a real estate appraiser in Abilene for over 40 years. He served as president of the Abilene Board of Realtors in 1967. He was past president of Chapter 157 of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers. He was a member and served as president of the Texas Plains Chapter of the Appraisal Institute (MAI). Wayne served on the Board of Trustees for the Hendrick Medical Center for two terms and served on the Hendrick Hospital Foundation Board. He was a member of the Wylie Baptist Church for over 60 years. Wayne was very active in his church serving as a Deacon, teaching Sunday School and serving in various other positions within the church. Wayne and Lola moved to Abilene in 1954 from Dublin, Texas.

Wayne was preceded in death by parents, one sister, Peggy Glenn and one sister-in-law, Karen Austin.

Survivors include his wife, Lola of Abilene; one son, Dennis Austin and wife Pam of Abilene; one daughter, Becky Anders and husband Ralph of Snyder, Texas; three brothers, Hubert Austin and wife Jan of Temple, Texas, Bill Austin and wife Margie of Waco, Texas and Roy Austin of Allen, Texas; six grandchildren, Molly Collier and husband Dan, Amy Shumake and husband Brandon, Douglas Anders, Elizabeth Roberson and husband Brett, Bobby Austin and wife Mary, and Benton Austin and wife Laura; 20 great grandchildren,  Megan, Madison, Emilee and Luke, Mayleigh, Jamie and Zach, Kinley, Bailey, Makenna, Riley, Danielle, Hayden, Matthew, Emma, Lucy, Reed, Declan, Landry and Lola; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be Douglas Anders, Benton Austin, Brett Roberson, Dan Collier, Brandon Shumake, Luke McLeod, Zach Dickens and Madison Moore.

Family suggests memorials may be made to the Wylie Baptist Church Building Fund, 6097 Buffalo Gap Rd, Abilene, Texas 79606; or to the Iberis Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 6846, Abilene, TX 79608-6846.