William E. "Bill" Austin

William Edward Austin (Bill) passed peacefully at his home in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by loving family on September 11, 2025.

Bill was born on April 20, 1936 in Nashville, TN. He joined the United States Air Force out of high school in St. Petersburg, FL, in 1954. Prior to leaving for basic training, he married his loving wife, Lorene Cain.

During his twenty-six and one-half years in the Air Force, he spent his first thirteen and one-half years as an Airborne Early Warning and Control Radar Technician flying over 7,000 hours on an EC-121 aircraft. His next thirteen years was spent as a Telecommunications Systems Control Superintendent until he was honorably discharged on May 31, 1981, as a SMSgt. (E8). During the twenty-six plus years in the AirForce, Bill was assigned to military bases in Florida, Massachusetts, California, Ohio, and South Carolina.

Each time he moved his family, which had eventually grown to four children, he traveled different interstates and roads to give his family the opportunity to see other parts of the United States. In addition to the various US bases, he was assigned to US military bases in Japan, the Philippine Islands, Guam, and Germany. Bill loved to travel, making his military career the perfect vocation for him. After, serving his country, he took a short respite to get used to the norms of civilian life. Then, in January 1983 he began working for Rockwell International at the Kennedy Space Center on the shuttle program. Bill retired from the space center in 2012.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Lorene Austin; three children, Stephanie Cross (Stephen), Mark Austin, and Tracey Alvarado; seven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman B. and Elizabeth (Ramey) Austin; and a daughter, Kelly Galbraith.

A memorial service for family and close friends will be held October 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at the University Baptist Church of Union Park, 10301 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Parkinson's Foundation, the American Cancer Society, or any other charitable organization that is dear to your heart.

Bill lived a long and fulfilled life and will be deeply missed and forever remembered by his family and friends.

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