William Russell "Bill" Austin

Bill was born on April 1, 1925, in Savannah, Georgia, to Pearl Miller Austin and Arthur Albert Austin. Bill proudly claimed Pooler, Georgia as his hometown.

During WW II, Bill served in the Merchant Marines. He retired from CSX Railroad as Chief Dispatcher of the Raleigh Division.

On Nov. 25, 1963, Bill Austin wrote the order for all Seaboard trains to stop from 11:00 a.m. until 11:01 a.m. in honor of President John F. Kennedy.

Bill and his wife, Clara, were longtime members of Westover United Methodist Church. For many years, Bill and his brother-in-law, Bill Wahlen, created beautiful wood crafts, and donated them to their respective churches’ annual Bazaar and Craft Festival.

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Clara Royall Austin, his parents, and two siblings, Arthur Albert (“Buddy”) Austin, Jr. and Elizabeth Austin Josephson.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Anne (“Mia”) Austin-Scoggins, son-in-law, David H. Scoggins, grandson Brendon Numsen and his fiancé, Kaelan Rhiannon, two great-grandsons, Oscar Emmary and Jacob Emmary, and a great-great granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Emmary. Special nieces and nephews include Bill and Diane Wahlen, John Young, Belinda Young Aldridge, Theresa Hughes, and Dr. Nikki Hughes. Gloria Jones, Bill’s longtime, devoted, caregiver, is among the family who will cherish Bill’s memory.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, July 27 at 10:30 a.m. at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Avenue. Following the service, family and friends are invited to gather for fellowship and remembrance at the adjacent Mitchell Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to St. Jude's Children Hospital in his memory.

Arrangements under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park, Raleigh, NC.