J. Leonard Austin

J. LEONARD AUSTIN ASHEVILLE - Buncombe county native and lifetime resident, James Leonard Austin, passed away on Friday, February 11 at his home. Born June 26, 1920, he was the seventh child of eleven born to John Robert and Laura Parham Austin in Leicester, NC. He joined the US Army on September 7, 1942. He was in the 202nd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion and served most of his time in the Philippines and New Guinea. He was honorably discharged February 1, 1946 with three Bronze Service Stars, American Theater Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He enjoyed reunions with his Army buddies and could tell wartime stories as if they happened yesterday. He will be greatly missed. On March 29, 1947, he married the love of his life, Mildred Capps of Madison County. At that time, he was employed by the Asheville Hosiery Mill. He also worked for the Hadley Corporation for many years. He had other job interests, but loved nothing more than to ride his tractor, work on small engines and spend time with family and friends. He was a member of Deaverview Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife of nearly 64 years, Mildred; his son Vernon and wife, Joan of Stuart, FL; his daughter, Dianna Attaway and husband Steve of Hendersonville; his granddaughter, Desiree Austin Clonch and her husband .Chris of Apex; grandsons Wesley Attaway and wife, Melanie of Winfield, IL and Matthew Attaway and wife Lindsay of Alexandria, VA, and many, many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his one sister, Elsie Redmon and all of his brothers: Howard, Kelsie, Furman, Gudger, Bill, Jeff, Paul, Frank, John and several of his nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Revs. Donald F. Austin and Bill Harkins officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team and the NC National Guard at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Flowers will be appreciated or memorials may be made to Deaverview Baptist Church, 220 Johnston Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806.