Don Austin, age 77 of Hudson, passed away peacefully at home October 20, 2024.

Don was born June 11, 1947 to the late Everett and Bonnie Hall Austin. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Myrtle "Happy" Austin, brothers Johnnie Austin of Boone and Steve Austin of Lenoir, and sister Mary Jo Austin Setzer of Hudson.

Survivors include daughter Hope Austin Laingen and son-in-law Jim of Hickory, grandson William Laingen and wife Stephanie of Valdosta, GA, grandson Austin Laingen of Richmond, VA, and granddaughter Bonnie Laingen of Winston-Salem. Also surviving are brother Jerry Austin and wife Geneva of Granite Quarry, and sister-in-law Reba Austin of Lenoir as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Don was honorably discharged from the US Army in 1970, ranked as a Specialist E-5 surgical scrub nurse. He served in the central Highlands, Pleiku, Vietnam from March 1968 to march 1969. A graduate of Appalachian State University with undergraduate and master's degrees in business administration, Don worked for Brown Brothers Construction and then new River Light and Power. He retired from New River after 30 years as General Manager during which time Boone welcomed a tremendous growth in customers.

Don's interests include camper travel, hunting, fishing, and wood-crafting everything from picture frames to furniture. Local and regional ministries were important to him, as reflected by his support of Crossnore School, particularly with shoes at Christmas, 20 years of service on the Lenoir Soup Kitchen board, and 51 years of Masonic work in Boone. He was selected Volunteer of the Year for the State of North Carolina by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1978, Man of the Year in Watauga County in 1977, and Hudson's Man of the Year in 2017. He served as Deacon at both First Baptist Church of Boone and First Baptist Church of Hudson, served on numerous church committees, and volunteered with the RAs. Don and wife, Happy, were instrumental in the start-up of the First Baptist Church Christmas Day Lunch in both Boone and Hudson, serving thousands of meals across 30 years of ministry.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 3:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church of Hudson with the family receiving friends at the church from 2:00 P.M to 3:00 P.M. prior to the service.

Music selections will be provided before and during the service by Rachelle Curtis, Toby Smith, and Corey Lovelace. The Rev. Sherrill German, the Rev. Dr. Wade Dellinger, and the Rev. Deacon Hope Laingen will officiate the service.

Interment will follow in Sardis/Hudson First Cemetery. The United States Army National Guard and Caldwell County Military Veterans Honor Guard and Masonic Brothers from Boone and Lenoir will provide Burial Rites.

In lieu of flowers, Don and his family request donations in his memory to the Lenoir Soup Kitchen, PO Box 1054, Lenoir, NC 28645, The Christmas Day Lunch Fund at First Baptist Church, 345 Main St., Hudson, NC 28638, or The Christmas Day Lunch Fund at First Baptist Church Boone, 375 W. King St., Boone, NC 28607.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Service of Lenoir is assisting the family.