A celebration of life service will be 11 a.m., April 26, 2025, at Findlay Church of Christ, in Sparta. Meal after visitation and then leave church at 2:30 p.m. and go to graveside for anyone who wishes to attend. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude or Shriners.
Gerald Lloyd Austin passed away April 7, 2025, at age 80.
Gerald was born July 25, 1944, in Akron, Ohio, to Ruth Burns Austin and Gauvain Austin.
He spent his career as an electrician and served as a mentor to anyone willing to listen and learn.
He was preceded in death by his grandson, David Loftis; sister, Delores Joynes; and parents, Ruth Burns Austin and Gauvain Austin.
Gerald is survived by his wife of 23 years, Kathy Austin; son, Jeff (Traci) Austin, of Gallatin; daughters, Angella Stewart (Wes Gass), of Thompson Station, Kim (Paul) Jones, of Gallatin, Karen (Troy) Loftis, of Hendersonville, Kendra Daughtry, of Nashville; brother, Rondald Austin, of Ohio; sister, Karen Cannon, of North Carolina; grandchildren, Erica (Mark) Manning, Jeremy Stewart, Patrick (Bethany) Jones, Jacob Loftis, Conner Jones, Kenley Jones; great-grandchildren, Robert Russell, Kylie Stewart, Jensyn Jones, Sawyer Jones; many nieces and nephews; and Mavis the cat.
To know him was to love him, and to be loved by him was the greatest gift. Gerald was a proud husband, father, grandpa, and papaw. His greatest joy in life was spending time with his family and riding his “motor scooter” on the winding roads of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He had a passion for helping others and was always the first to lend a hand to anyone in need.
