Verda J. Austin, 80, of South Whitley, died peacefully Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne where she was admitted Tuesday morning.
She was born August 25, 1928, in Ada, Oklahoma a daughter of William and Minnie (Dykes) Mullinax. While spending her formative years in the Ada area, she graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City.
On March 30, 1945, she was united in marriage to Jack DeFoe Austin. They lived on a farm in Richland Township, Whitley County before moving into South Whitley a short time later. Mr. Austin died January 15, 1974.
She was employed at Whitley Products, W.J. Carey Construction, Dr. Park Huffman from 1959 until 1977 and then Dr. James Hanus until her retirement.
Surviving relatives include four children, Terry Austin of North Manchester, Jeanne Smith of Columbia City, Robert (Jennifer) Austin of Fort Wayne and Diane (Fred) Parkinson of Warsaw; 12 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; a sister, Sylvia McGlamery of Midwest City, Oklahoma; and a sister-in-law, Marilee Fleck of Columbia City.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Harvey Mullinax, Beecher Mullinax and an infant; and a sister, Vada Mae Fox.
The funeral service is 2 p.m. Sunday at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley. Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. The burial will be in South Whitley Cemetery.
For those who wish, memorials may be made to South Whitley Public Library.