His love of country, his love of family and his love of his church kept him in comfort till the end. He served in the Navy as an Aviation Ordnance Mate 1st class from 1941 to 1946 during WWII working on top secret torpedoes used to stop the U boats in the Atlantic. To his credit is the sinking of a Japanese sub found in the Atlantic. Austin was a well know painting contractor in Houston. He and his company painted some of the finest homes in the city to include the Swedish Consulate General’s home, the home of Watergate prosecutor Leon Jaworski and many others.
Preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Dorothy Shirley Lott Estes. He leaves behind his son, Tim Estes, Cmdr., USN-R (ret) and his wife Julie, daughter Kathleen Yauch, 5 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. Austin was a believer in giving back. He volunteered tirelessly for years at the USO at Houston Intercontinental airport and the Boy Scouts USA. He also was a lay minister at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church.
Visitation with the family was held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at Waltrip Funeral Directors. Services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2016, in the sanctuary of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 1656 Blalock in Houston, Texas. The Reverend Robert P. Goolsby, officiated. Interment with military honors followed in Woodlawn Garden of Memories.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Christopher Episcopal Church or the Houston USO.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18