Mr. J. Robert Austin, 77, of Winder, passed away Saturday, December 31, 2011. Born in Barrow County, he was the son of R.P. and Kaithleen Hunter Austin. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he was the owner and operator of Austin Construction. He is survived by wife Sarah Austin; sons and daughters-in-law, Wayne & Sherryl Austin and Keith & Elizabeth Austin, all of Winder; brother, Donald Austin, of Bethlehem; sister, Ona McGahee, of Bethlehem; grandchildren, Caleb Austin, Colton Austin, Desiree Middlebrooks and Bethany Austin. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at Midway Christian Church with the Rev. John Burchfield and the Rev. Hal Tapp officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Smith Funeral Home, Winder, GA.