Austin Johnson

Austin H. Johnson, age 92, of Dayton, OH, died Saturday August 16, 2014. Austin was born & raised in Corry, Pennsylvania. A World War II Veteran, he served in the European front. After the war he finished his Bachelors' degree at the University of Cincinnati and married his sweetheart, Betty Jean Boyer. He was a retired & respected industrial engineer for 35 years at The Dayton Tire & Rubber Co. until its closure in the late 1980's and then for The Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in Oklahoma City, OK, until his retirement at age 65. He and his wife attended Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio and Central Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City where they were blessed with many life-long friends. For the last 13 years he was a resident of Friendship Village in Trotwood where he also made many friends. Our thanks go to the devoted staff at Friendship Village that cared for him and also Hospice of Dayton in his last days. Austin was an artist well known for his ability to carve a piece of wood into a beautiful object whether it was a bird, animal or free form piece. The finish and shape of each carving brought out the beauty of the wood and beckoned the admirer to touch it. He is survived by his loving family of three children, son Michael and his wife, Terri of Springboro, son Jay (Pat) and his wife Deb of Franklin, and daughter, Julie Clark and her husband, Terry, of Greenville, 9 grandchildren, Jessica Murray (husband Todd), Jacob Johnson, Amber Davis (husband Kent), Elizabeth Johnson, Tessa Clark, Hillary & Meghan Johnson, Brianna Grooms, and his namesake, Austin Johnson; 5 great-grandchildren, Bree & Ethan Murray, Brandan, Nathan, & Devin Davis. He was a great dad & grandpa whose wisdom & sense of humor will be missed. His love for us and ours for him will live on. A memorial will be held in his honor on Saturday, October 18, 11 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Wilkinson St., Dayton. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the American Cancer Society (https://donate.cancer.org/index).