In Memory Of
Billy Austin
1923
2015
Billy Austin
August 3, 1923 — July 20, 2015
Bill V. Austin passed away on July 20, 2015. Bill was born in Kansas City, Missouri on August 3, 1923 at his aunt's house to William Knight and Josephine Austin and was raised with his 2 older sisters. He graduated from East High School as a ROTC Lieutenant in 1940 and went to work for Commerce Bank as the Head Office Boy (best Office Boy Commerce Bank ever had).
Bill meet his future wife Virginia Fern Smith at Fairy Land Park in 1941. Bill & Virginia were married on June 17, 1945. They were hand in hand together for more than 70 plus years.
Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army on November 6, 1942 in Fort Leavenworth, KS. He spent most of his Army duty in Alaska. He was discharged in November 1945.
After discharge from the U.S. Army in 1945 Bill went to work for the Federal Housing Administration in January 1946 in the Kansas City office. He was making so much money that he & mom bought their first car, a 1941 Plymouth (mom taught dad how to drive). Through a series of promotions, he participated in mortgage credit training, was chief of the mortgage credit branch, as well as director of the Kansas City operations division. He went to Oklahoma City as special assistant to the director in 1967. When FHA was incorporated into HUD in 1970, Bill assumed position of deputy director of the HUD area office. Bill was credited with being instrumental in the advancement of the Federal Women's Program in HUD, as well as an advocate of the HUD Upward Mobility Training Program. Bill retired from HUD on May 30, 1978 after more than 35 years of federal service. After retiring, Bill & Virginia made many trips overseas seeing all the wonderful cities & sites. In 1991 Bill & Virginia moved back to Overland Park, Kansas. They also volunteered many Saturdays at the Visitors Center down at the Plaza.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters, Glester & Madge. He is survived by Virginia, his wife of 70 years, daughter Jan, sons Gary and Bob, grandsons Michael Herod, Dustin Austin, granddaughters Ashley Herod, Christina Austin, Katie Austin, Rae Lynn Austin, Heather Luthi. Great-grandsons Carter & Christian Herod and Ivan Luthi and great-granddaughter Quinn Austin.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice Care of Overland Park, KS.
Bill meet his future wife Virginia Fern Smith at Fairy Land Park in 1941. Bill & Virginia were married on June 17, 1945. They were hand in hand together for more than 70 plus years.
Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army on November 6, 1942 in Fort Leavenworth, KS. He spent most of his Army duty in Alaska. He was discharged in November 1945.
After discharge from the U.S. Army in 1945 Bill went to work for the Federal Housing Administration in January 1946 in the Kansas City office. He was making so much money that he & mom bought their first car, a 1941 Plymouth (mom taught dad how to drive). Through a series of promotions, he participated in mortgage credit training, was chief of the mortgage credit branch, as well as director of the Kansas City operations division. He went to Oklahoma City as special assistant to the director in 1967. When FHA was incorporated into HUD in 1970, Bill assumed position of deputy director of the HUD area office. Bill was credited with being instrumental in the advancement of the Federal Women's Program in HUD, as well as an advocate of the HUD Upward Mobility Training Program. Bill retired from HUD on May 30, 1978 after more than 35 years of federal service. After retiring, Bill & Virginia made many trips overseas seeing all the wonderful cities & sites. In 1991 Bill & Virginia moved back to Overland Park, Kansas. They also volunteered many Saturdays at the Visitors Center down at the Plaza.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters, Glester & Madge. He is survived by Virginia, his wife of 70 years, daughter Jan, sons Gary and Bob, grandsons Michael Herod, Dustin Austin, granddaughters Ashley Herod, Christina Austin, Katie Austin, Rae Lynn Austin, Heather Luthi. Great-grandsons Carter & Christian Herod and Ivan Luthi and great-granddaughter Quinn Austin.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice Care of Overland Park, KS.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Billy Austin, please visit our flower store.
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