Robert Austin Wilson Jr.

WILSON Robert Austin Wilson Jr., who was a retired Jacksonville Beach Fire Marshal, went home to be with the Lord on January 16, 2009. He was the beloved husband of Cheryl, and a devoted father and grandfather. He was a member of Ft. Caroline Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Born May 13, 1948, Austin was a lifelong resident of Jacksonville. Austin received his Eagle Scout rank on Feb. 15, 1962 at the age of 13. After graduating from Andrew Jackson High School he entered the field of construction as a carpenter. He finished his career in construction as a superintendent where he worked in many different states and foreign countries building off shore oil rigs. In 1984 Austin married Cheryl and also began his 15 year career with the city of Jacksonville Beach. He started as a Code Enforcement Officer and was promoted to Fire Marshall in 1986. Austin was a graduate of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD, and of the Florida State Fire College in Ocala, FL. Throughout his service with the Fire Department he earned the respect and admiration of his peers and the fire service community including such specialized fields as fire alarms, fire sprinklers, commercial cooking fire protection systems and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. He was known throughout northeast Florida as an authority on code enforcement issues. He was an active participant in the Northeast Florida Fire Prevention Association. Austin taught and certified the Jacksonville Beach Fire Department members as Fire Safety Inspectors enabling them to conduct annual fire inspections in all commercial buildings in Jacksonville Beach. Austin was certified as an advanced fire cause and origin investigator and certified as an expert witness in arson investigation. Austin was cited by the United States Department of the Treasury Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for his noteworthy contribution to the efficient operation of the Church Arson Task Force, a significant and nationally publicized arson investigation. Due to a boating accident resulting in quadriplegia, Austin retired from the City of Jacksonville Beach Fire Department in March 1999. Upon retirement, he received a Certificate of Esteem from Jacksonville Beach and many other awards. For six years after his injury the City of Jacksonville Beach partnered with Carrabbas Restaurant and held an annual fundraiser luncheon for Austin. In addition to Cheryl, his wife of 25 years, Austin is survived by a brother Edward (Wendi) of Tallahassee; a daughter, Cheri McLeod (Darrell) of Jacksonville; a son, Christopher Griffeth (Jane) of Kennesaw, GA; and four grandchildren, Robert May, Chase Christian, Brinson Margaret Griffeth and Tillman Griffeth. Viewing will be from 12:30-2 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21 at Ft. Caroline Baptist Church, 11428 McCormick Rd., Jacksonville. Interment will be the following day at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City, FL. Jacksonville Memory Gardens of Orange Park will handle the arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the Ft. Caroline Baptist Church Building Fund at the above address. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com