Judith Lewis Austin was born in Florence, AL on April 12. 1942 and passed away peacefully after a short battle with a terminal illness on September 30, 2019 with her daughter, Kristen, and brother, Bob, by her side along with beloved sitter, Erin. She graduated from Coffee High School. She married her high school sweetheart, Gene Austin, whom she’d known since she was four years old.
Gene and Judith lived in Auburn, AL while he attended Auburn University. They moved to Huntsville, AL, where they spent the majority of their 57 years of marriage. During his tenure at NASA, they also lived in Washington, D.C., Houston, TX, and Palmdale, CA.
A quote once said, “Behind every great man stands a great woman. There is no greater man than the man that acknowledges the woman standing right next to him.” They had a partnership that stood the test of time (73 years of knowing each other). She was his cheerleader, confidante, and partner in every way.
Judith and Gene loved traveling and after his retirement in 2001, they spent much of their time on many adventures. Their favorite spot was Big Sur and they frequented it for anniversaries and other special events.
Judith is survived by her mother, Jewell Lewis; brother, Bob Lewis; husband, Robert ‘Gene’ Austin; daughters, Deirdre Gunn (James) and Kristen Beasley (Tim); grandchildren, Anna Duke, Heather Hardin, Russell Jacoway, Emma Jacoway, and Hannah Beasley; great-grandchildren, Jayden, Amelia, Adalyn, Kaitlyn, Kaleb, and Oliver; nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews include Caroline Cochran, Bailey Lewis, John Covey Lewis, Raley, Herron, Robert, and Covey Lael. Preceding her in death was her father, Robert W. Lewis, Sr. and her beloved grandparents, Cova and Roxie Bailey and William J and Eula Lewis.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, October 4 at First United Methodist Church. The funeral will immediately follow at the church with the Rev. Eric Bagwell officiating.
In lieu of flowers, Judith had requested that memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 (https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude).
