Name: Woodrow Davis Austin Date: July 20th, 1924 - March 2nd, 2010 Obituary: Woodrow Davis Austin, 85, of Newton, died Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at his residence. He was born July 20, 1924, in Catawba County to the late Arthur Leroy Austin and Mae Mullinax Austin. Mr. Austin was a graduate of Startown High School; a graduate of Clevenger’s Business College in Newton; treasurer of the Fairbrook Fire Dept., Hickory Fire Dept. Station #5; and a member of Hickory American Legion Post 48. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in the Pacific Theater in World War II. Mr. Austin was a retired master mechanic for the General Electric Company. He was a member of Beth Eden Lutheran Church and was an avid gardener. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Fred Austin, Paul Austin, Felix Austin, and Bill Austin, and sisters, Evelyn Austin and Mildred McDaniel. Mr. Austin is survived by his wife of 63 years, Frances Huffman Austin; daughter, Elaine Austin Brown and husband Dr. Mark Brown, of Durham; son, David Austin and wife Priscilla, of Mocksville; grandchildren, Jason Austin and wife Erin, Matthew Austin, Andrew Austin, and Heather Perry; great-grandchildren, Emma Laxton and Madelyn Laxton; and brother, Harvey L. Austin and wife Jewell, of Brunswick, OH. A Service of Remembrance will be held 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 5, 2010, at Beth Eden Lutheran Church with Rev. Dr. Jane Mitcham and Rev. Chad Walker officiating. Burial will follow in Catawba Memorial Park with military honors conducted by American Legion Post 48. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at Drum Funeral Home in Conover. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Hickory Fire Dept. Fairbrook Station #5. Memorials may be made to Beth Eden Lutheran Church, 400 N. Main Avenue, Newton, NC 28658. The Austin family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Conover, NC. Memorials: Beth Eden Lutheran Church, 400 N. Main Avenue, Newton, NC 28658 Visitations: 6:00PM to 8:00PM on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at Drum Funeral Home - Conover (map/driving directions) Services: 3:00PM at Beth Eden Lutheran Church on Friday, March 5th, 2010 (map/driving directions) Cemetery: Catawba Memorial Park 3060 Hyy 70 SE Hickory, NC 28602 (map/driving directions)