Donald "Pookie" Edwin Austin of Walnut Ridge died Thursday evening, May 10, 2012 at NEA Baptist Hospital. He was 77 years old.
He was born April 8, 1935 in Walnut Ridge to the late Frank & Ruby Harvey Austin. He married Oma Lee Hindman in Walnut Ridge on December 22, 1954. He attended United Freewill Baptist in Walnut Ridge and was retired from the United States Department of Agriculture. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Mr. Austin is preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Jackie, Maxie, Kenneth, Jewell and Bill Austin; one sister, Virginia Martin; and daughter-in-law, Debbie Austin (Kelly).
He is survived by his wife Oma Lee Austin of the home; two daughters, Janet Lawhon (Gary) of Walnut Ridge and Lorra Whitmire (Chris) of Clover Bend; one son, Kelly Austin of Jonesboro; two grandchildren, Austin Lawhon (Morgan) and ShayLee Lawhon; one great-grandchild, Bentley Lawhon; and two sisters, Pat Buerklin of Greers Ferry and Kate Anderson of Hoxie.
The family will receive friends Saturday, May 12 at Cox Funeral Home Chapel in Walnut Ridge from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm with the service following the visitation. Rev. Glenn Smith will be officiating. Burial will follow in the Austin Cemetery at Walnut Ridge. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Dwight Ellis, Donald Brunson, Jason Andrews, Steve Shrable, Marty McGinnis, and Jerry Adkisson
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Downtown Walnut Ridge Inc., P.O. Box 72, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476.