William Douglas Austin, better known to everyone as Doug, 79, of the Lost Creek community of White County, passed away Oct. 21, 2024. at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Doug was born May 30, 1945, in Bon Air, to Homer Gordan and Emily Juanita Powell Austin.
Doug earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Tennessee Tech, practicing accounting privately and also for Sparta Electric and Water Department, White County Co-Op, and L.T.D. An avid gardener and beekeeper, Doug found enjoyment by sharing his bounty with others. When he was not working on his beloved farm, he could be found fishing with his best friend, Mike Prater.
Doug was dedicated to the Lord and sharing his faith in Jesus Christ with everyone he met. That was evident in the time he spent praying for others. His faith called him to serve as an ordained deacon at First Baptist Church, in Lake Mary, Florida; a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Wilhite Baptist Church, in Cookeville; and he served as a deacon and Sunday School director at Bear Cove Baptist Church, in Sparta, for 23 years. He recently joined Hickory Valley Baptist Church and enjoyed the fellowship.
Above all else, Doug loved spending time with his family, especially at the holidays.
Doug was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force. During his time in the service, he met Liz, his wife of 55 years.
Surviving family members left to cherish his memory include his wife, Elizabeth Palmer Austin; children and their spouses, Paul and Stacy Austin, Philip and Amy Austin, Amanda and Jeff Randolph; grandchildren, Jesse Austin and wife Lauren, Alicia Simmons and husband Cody, Joshua Austin, Nathaniel Randolph, Marissa Randolph, Jennifer Austin, Daniel Austin, Hannah Austin; great-grandchild, Owen Simmons; siblings and their spouses, Powell and Tricia Austin, Thomas and Wanda Austin, Wanda Sue and Kennith Williams, Janice Barnett and Glenn Maddox, Richard and Laura Austin, Patricia and Scott Milliron; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was 10 a.m., Oct. 26, 2024, at Hickory Valley Baptist Church. Burial, with full military honors by the Veterans’ Honor Guard, followed in Lost Creek Cemetery. Doug Benningfield and Dave Shelley officiated.
Cody Simmons, Daniel Austin, Jesse Austin, Joshua Austin, Nathaniel Randolph, Chris Cravens, Austin Burchett, Kyle Frazier, and David Williams served as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to Lost Creek Cemetery or Austin Cemetery, where Doug served as a trustee, in care of Hunter Funeral Home, P.O. Box 90, Sparta, Tennessee 38583.
Hunter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
