Gwin Russell Montgomery

"A retired automobile dealer and a resident of Baton Rouge since 1970, Gwin Montgomery died peacefully in his sleep on January 2nd at the age of 94. Gwin was a native of Marvel, Alabama and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. He was a graduate of Phillips High School in Birmingham and attended Birmingham Southern College one semester before joining the Army Air Force in 1943. At Birmingham Southern, he pledged Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He was a Second Lt. with the 15th Air Force, 450 Bombardment Group, 722nd Squadron, known as the "Cottontails" stationed in Manduria, Italy, from 1943 to 1945, during World War II. Following his military service, he attended the University of Alabama. While waiting to get into medical school, he started working for O.Z. Hall Motors in Ensley, Alabama, thus the beginning of his automobile career. He was quickly promoted to Sales Manager. His sales management jobs took him to Meridian, Hattiesburg and Laurel, Mississippi and Gadsden, Alabama. In 1964, he lived six years in Carmel California, managing the Roller/Singleton Chevrolet dealership. He and his wife still maintain a second home in Carmel. In 1970 he purchased Mid City Motors/ doing business as Audubon Ford. He owned and operated Audubon Ford for 30 years. Of the 3100 Ford dealerships in the United States, he was one of 12 elected to the National Ford Dealer Council in 1986-1987. In 1986 he purchased the Mercedes Benz franchise and operated Audubon Imports for ten years. Gwin is survived by his wife of 66 years, Barbara Campbell Montgomery, four children, Gail Montgomery George and husband Dave, Mark Russell Montgomery and wife Freda, Susan Montgomery Talbert and husband Kyle, Steven Michael Montgomery and wife London. He had fourteen grandchildren: Matthew David George (wife Tawny), Lindsay George Sanchez (husband Chad), Christina George Beck (husband Colin), Andrew David George (wife Reshae) Laura Catherine George, Katie Montgomery Mears (husband Whitney), Jennifer Ann Montgomery, Logan Leighann Talbert, Lauren Talbert Finical (husband Peyton), Anna Catherine Talbert, Elizabeth Paige Montgomery, Victoria Ann Montgomery, Mickey McCall Montgomery, and Faith Alexandra Montgomery. He had six great grandchildren: Nathan and Owen Sanchez, Ansley and Norah George, Adelaide and Emma Grace Beck. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Gamble (Doc) Montgomery and Lillian Estelle (Stella) Lawley Montgomery and two older brothers, William Gamble (Gee) Montgomery, Jr. and James Gordon (Jim) Montgomery, all of Birmingham, AL. Gwin was a former deacon and member of the First Presbyterian Church, He served as a former board member of The Lady of the Lake Foundation, past board member of the American Red Cross and past board member of the YMCA (North Foster Drive branch) and a former member of the Baton Rouge Rotary Club. He was a member of the Baton Rouge Country Club, serving on it board of directors in 1995 and 1996. He was also a former member of Quail Lodge Golf Club in Carmel, CA and Spyglass Hill Golf Club in Pebble Beach, CA. and a former member of Shoal Creek Golf Club in Birmingham, AL. He was an avid golfer, having shot 11 holes- in-one. We would like to give special thanks to his devoted caregivers, Bernice Badie, Channa Courtney, Patricia Cage and Sharron Pettice. Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home at 825 Government Street on Thursday, January 4th from 5 to 7 pm and on Friday, January 5th from 10-11 am at First Presbyterian Church preceding the service at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 2006, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 or to a charity of one's choice.