Obituary
Birth: Jul. 13, 1917
Anderson
Madison County
Indiana, USA
Death: Feb. 13, 2008
Robert L. Austin 90, Anderson, IN, died February 13, 2008. He was born in Anderson, IN on July 13, 1917.
Memberships: graduated from Anderson High School in 1935, graduated from Indiana University in 1939, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He graduated from I.U. School of Law in 1942, where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity and was admitted to the Bar Association in March of 1942. Spring of 1942, he entered the U.S. Navy and taught navigation at Notre Dame. He became gunnery officer and served on the USS New Mexico. He was discharged from the service in 1946 at the rank of Lieutenant. Following service he taught law school at University of Kansas and was an assistant to the Dean at I.U. School of Law.
He returned to Anderson in 1947 and joined the law firm of Stewart & Johnson which became Stewart & Austin. In 1966 he joined the firm of Busby, Austin, Cooper & Farr where he retired in August of 2006 at the age of 89. Active in the community he served as president of Madison County United Way Board of Directors, Madison County Bar Association, Anderson Chamber of Commerce, and Anderson Country Club. He was on the board of Trustees of First Presbyterian Church; member of the board of trustees at St. John’s Hospital, and board of directors of the Y.M.C.A. in Madison County.
He served as chairman of Madison County Chapter of the American Red Cross and President of Anderson Fine Arts Center. He served as Anderson City Judge from 1951 to 1955. After the war he was Commander of the U.S. Naval Reserve in Anderson. He was a member of the Madison County Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and The American College of Trustee and Estate Council.
Survivors include: 4 sons & 2 daughters-in-law: Michael & Terri Austin of Anderson; Thomas Austin of Indianapolis, Charles & Debbie Austin of South Hadley, MA; Philip Austin of Indianapolis; 3 grandchildren: Jeff Austin, Matt Austin and Lauren Austin, stepson, Bill (Libby) Harbaugh, step-granddaughter, Michelle and great granddaughter, Kaylie and several nieces & nephews Preceded in death by: his parents: Wilbur & Bessie (Lee) Austin; brother, Charles Austin MD, 1st wife: Marjorie (McCullough) Austin, who died in 1968 and 2nd wife, Charlotte (Cooper) Harbaugh Austin, who died in 2007.
Services were entrusted to Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service of Anderson, Indiana.