Ronald Dean Austin, 80, of Pana died Friday, March 6, 2015, at Heritage Health in Pana.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 10, at McCracken-Dean Funeral Home in Pana with Pastor Chris Huff officiating. Burial was in Rosemond Grove Cemetery with graveside military rites by Pana Veterans Honor Guard.
Mr. Austin was born on Oct. 31, 1934, in Oconee, the son of Walter Scott “Scotty” and Evelyn (Parrill) Austin. He married Barbara Fulkerson in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, on Feb. 8, 1957, and she preceded him in death on Sept. 22, 2010.
He lived in the Pana and Rosamond areas his entire life except when he served in the United States Marine Corps. He retired from the state of Illinois, department of transportation.
Mr. Austin enjoyed boys and girls basketball and loved to do carpentry work and work in the yard. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Nokomis and was a past member of the Pana Sports Boosters.
He is survived by his daughter, Mitzi Holland of Pana; stepchildren, Brenda Witt of Pana and Charles (wife Joanna) Stroud of Hammond, IN; one grandson, Joshua Holland of Decatur; four stepgrandchildren, Jeff (wife Judy) Witt of Pana, Tonya (husband Craig) Harper and Barb (husband Jim) Langreder, both of Hobart, IN, and Brian Stroud of Indiana; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; one stepgreat-great-grandchild; brother, Roger (wife Gladys) Austin of Edgewood; and sister, Dorothy Seely of Pana.
Mr. Austin was preceded in death by two sisters, Bonnie Worker and Helen Miller.
Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church, 965 E. Union, Nokomis, IL, 62075.
