Jerry Wayne Austin

Jerry Wayne Austin, 77, passed away, Tuesday, July 20, 2021.  Jerry was born September 02, 1943 in the same house his mother was born located in Smethport, Ashe County, North Carolina to the late Bessie Combs and Nallie Austin. His official birthdate is September 12, 1943, as it took his brother 10 days to make the journey to West Jefferson to record his birth. He moved to Kannapolis, NC where he grew up and met his wife, Jo Anne Hinson. He served in the United States Air Force for four years where he served first in Germany and finished in Goldsboro, NC.   He moved to Wilmington in 1965 where he managed the Shoe Show on Oleander Drive for 32 years, retiring in 1998.  For the next 15 years, he worked with his family as a driving instructor for Farriss Driving School. He taught thousands of adults and students how to drive. Jerry loved sports.  He spent many years coaching baseball for Counts Automotive at Winter Park Optimist.  He was an avid sports fan and followed college football and basketball where he liked Carolina, but his heart was always pulling for Duke.   In recent years, he loved spending his day catching up with old friends, looking for a good hotdog, or just reminiscing.  He was a great example of Christ like service.   Jerry was preceded in death by Jo Anne, his wife of 56 years.   He is survived by his sister Patsy Austin Ajala, of Gastonia, NC; three children: Jeff Austin and wife, Julie, of Wilmington, NC; Joey Austin and wife, Shellie, of Wilmington, NC; Jana Austin of Wilmington, NC and his niece, Wendy Ludwig and husband, Jeff of Wilmington, NC. Jerry was the proud grandfather of 9 grandchildren and 1 grandnephew: Macey, Tommy, Jeffery, Jake, Jaret, Hannah, Luke, Kate, Lauren, and Coleby.  He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 26, 2021 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 514 South College Road. followed by graveside services at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Wilmington, NC.