William Austin Hornbuckle, 90 years of age, beloved husband, supportive father, treasured granddaddy and great granddaddy, passed-on from this life on January 13, 2021.
Austin believed in the importance of maintaining a healthy body and mind. For physical health, he enjoyed a nutritious diet, and stayed active by riding a stationary bike and gardening each day. His mental acuity could be attributed to his keen interest in reading books on philosophy & theology and researching genealogy. After retirement, he even attended continuing education classes at the University of Alabama – Huntsville.
He loved his wife and family and worked hard to provide everything that was needed (or wanted). In retirement, he freelanced as a “Senior Advisor” to those in need of advice and took great pride as a self-described “Care-Giver”, serving his wife, Nancy Lee, breakfast every morning and chauffeuring her to lunch, beauty shop & doctor’s appointments, or Piggly Wiggly.
He enjoyed debating issues, cheering for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team and listening to a wide variety of music, with a special love for the genres of country, bluegrass and gospel. One of his greatest joys was playing guitar and singing with his family. He felt that music was very important, so he was proud to encourage and then witness his kids, grandkids and great grandkids learn to play musical instruments and sing.
While raising his own family in New Hope, Austin looked to help others. He developed and built several affordable residential housing subdivisions in New Hope, which remains populated by individual family-owned homes today. He was integral in the planning, development and building of several of New Hope’s firsts: the first City Hall, the first football program, and one of the first rural YMCA’s in Alabama, which (more than 50 years later) continues to serve the community as New Hope City Recreation Center.
Austin’s additional accomplishments of note include: working with the City of Huntsville to develop Ditto Landing, for which he served on the Board of Directors as president for over 20 years; appearing in Fortune 500 magazine in the 1980’s as one of the top insurance producers in the country; and in recent years serving on the Board of Trusties for the Byrd Cemetery and continuing the historical plotting.
Austin was preceded in death by his parents: Weston and Lillie Mae Hornbuckle; brothers: Arnold Hornbuckle, Merlin “Mutt” Hornbuckle, and Loyal Felton Hornbuckle; son: Steven Austin Hornbuckle; and daughter: Linda Lee Keller.
He is survived by his loving wife and buddy of 72 years, Nancy Lee Hornbuckle (nee Cooper); children: Don Neal Hornbuckle (Jeanette); Kathy Louise Lipman (Mark); Nancy Susan Hornbuckle; John Scott Hornbuckle; grandchildren: Robert Hornbuckle (Jessica), Callie Incalcatera (Paul), John Neal Hornbuckle (Stephani), Brian Clark (Hannah), Matthew Lipman, Morgan Lipman; great grandchildren: Sydney Hornbuckle, Sawyer Hornbuckle, Skyler Hornbuckle, Alana Incalcatera; and many other family members and friends.
Due to restrictions, a private family service will be held graveside at Hayden Cemetery.
