Mr. Donald Austin

Donald Austin, known by everyone as Don, went home to be with Jesus on March 30, 2022 at age 92 in Grapevine, TX. Don was born November 21, 1929 in Ponca City, OK to the late Claud and Maude Austin. He was the 2nd born of 5 children and 3 preceded him in death (Brothers Ed and Lloyd and sister Louise Wilson).

After graduating from Ponca City High School, he joined the Navy in 1948 where he learned the machine tool trade. He married his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 72 years Mary Beth on June 11, 1949. They had 2 boys David and Clyde. Don is survived by his wife Mary Beth, his son David Austin and wife Sonja of Keller, Clyde Austin and wife Cheryl of Fort Worth, 5 grandkids Lee Austin and wife Camille, Chae Hackney and wife Vangi, Trent Austin and wife Jennifer, Caty Roberts and husband Brandon, and Calder Austin. He has 6 surviving great grandkids Ashlee Austin, Garrett Austin, Spur Hackney, Trenity Hackney, Nolan Roberts, and Londyn Roberts. He is survived by his sister Dorothy Vanover of Ponca City, Ok, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In 1950, after honorable discharge from the Navy, Don worked as a machinist in Wichita, Kansas and Tonkawa, Oklahoma. At the same time, he pastored Lamont Baptist Church in Lamont, Oklahoma for a year and half.

Don moved with his family to Dallas, Texas in 1954 to work for Varel Manufacturing, then Pan American Plastics and Thunderbolt Tool. Don completed the Factory Executive Service correspondence course from the Lincoln Extension Institute by 1960. In 1963, Don and a partner started Astra Tool Company. For seven years the company did contract machine shop work for several Dallas area manufacturing companies. The company transitioned to machine tool sales in 1969-70 with his son David joining the company in 1971. Don and David worked together until Don’s retirement in 2013. Don was president of Astra Tool from 1963 until his retirement in 2013. He was a member of the Machinery Dealers National Association and an accredited appraiser of the American Machinery and Equipment Appraisers. Throughout his career Don was known by all as a man of his word.

In 1971, Don and Mary Beth moved to Colleyville, TX. In 1984, they moved the family business to Grapevine, TX where he worked until he retired at age 83. He was a great servant and model of Christian faithfulness for all of us. Don was a deacon and counted the offering for Church at the Cross for many years. He was greatly respected and an inspiration for many. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He loved watching all sports, especially when his grandkids were playing. He loved having Blue Bell popsicles with his grandkids and Blue Bell ice cream cups with his great grandkids. He loved breakfast time with his community friends at McDonalds and was known to mentor the younger men in his church. He was loving and caring and always had a smile on his face. He made you feel welcome and loved from the moment you met him. He left such a legacy and will be missed greatly, but we rejoice we will see him again!

Now that Don has passed into the arms of our Lord, we should remind ourselves that while this is the end of Don’s physical life on Earth, it’s the beginning of an eternal and beautiful journey for him!

Visitation will be held Monday, April 4, 2022 at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home in Colleyville from 5 to 7 pm and a memorial service will be held at Church at the Cross in Grapevine with Pastors J. R. Vasser and Pete Brooks officiating on Tuesday April 5, 2022 at 2 pm.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bluebonnethills.com for the Austin family.

In lieu of flowers, family request donations to American Heart Association in memory of Mr. Austin.