Katherine Elizabeth Bowles Austin

Katherine Elizabeth Bowles Austin, of Roanoke, departed this earthly incarnation to traverse the beautiful rainbow bridge into life eternal on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, with family by her side. "Katie" was born in Roanoke, Va., on October 7, 1924, the first of three girls born to Walter William and Lucy Adavene Lester Bowles, originally of Washington County, Va. She was a granddaughter of Charles W. and Mary Elizabeth "Bet" McVey Bowles and Joseph N. and Kate Brooks Lester. Katie was a proud graduate of Jefferson High School, Class of 1943. She worked for Parcell's Bakery where she met the love of her life, Lee Austin. They married in Roanoke, Va., in January 1945 and made their home on Melrose Avenue across from the All-Star Bowling Alley for many years where they raised their three children, Patty, Dickie and Larry. After the children were grown, Katie and Lee moved to Avondale Avenue in North East Roanoke. In the last few years Katie made her home in Vinton, with the last year residing at The Berkshire.
In the 1950's, Katie and Lee owned and operated, Austin's Pie Shop on East Main Street in Salem, Va. Their bakery was eventually bought out by Johnson's Bakery and they worked for Mr. and Mrs. Johnson for several years. Katie later went to work at WinnDixie at the Roanoke-Salem Plaza in the bakery. She worked for Winn-Dixie at several of the area stores, including Crossroads Mall and the Vinton Store, for many years until her retirement. She was also a member of Melrose Baptist Church and attended services on occasion at Waverly Place Baptist and Northside Church of Christ.
If you knew nothing else about Katie, the one thing most everyone did know was that she could cook. Nothing could compare to the feast that Katie would prepare for Sunday dinner, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. The table was always full of not only food, but family and extended family. If you missed out on Katie's cooking you really missed a treat. There was no way that one could get up from that table and be hungry... and if you were, it was your fault. Of course, though, if Katie thought you weren't eating or eating enough...she was going to feed you! Everyone was always welcome in her home.
Katie was also an avid reader and probably read more than a thousand books in her lifetime. She also loved flowers, especially petunias. She loved long drives in the city or country and never turned down a stop at K & W or The Roanoker Restaurant. Katie was a huge sports fan. She loved the Atlanta Braves, NASCAR and the NBA. Katie preferred a quiet, slow paced kind of living. She didn't live extravagantly or beyond her means, but she always had what she needed.
Katie loved her family more than anything. She did whatever she could for any one of us at any time. Katie was very protective, loving and loyal, supportive and devoted to family. She was very proud that she could lay claim to be the matriarch to five living generations of family on two different branches. One through her daughter, Patty, and another through her son, Dick. Katie was also a caregiver for many years for her parents, as well as her father-in-law, and her daughter's mother-in-law, Uneita Tingler Hall.
Katie was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Lee Dudley Austin; her sister, Willie Evelyn "Billie" Bowles Cline; her sons, Richard Lee Austin and Larry Wayne Austin; her grandson, Jeffrey Lee Austin; son-in-law, Wendell W. Hall; grandson-in-law, H. Preston Driscoll Jr.; nephew, Walter William "Wally" Humes; her in-laws, James Taylor and Ruth Wright Austin; and good friends, Frances Young, Mary Deel, Virginia Pruitt, Dula Bushnell and Jimmy Carden; and special pets, Herbie, Tweety, Spiffy and Fritz.
Those that are left to cherish her precious and loving memory are her daughter, Patricia Austin Hall, of Vinton; her grandchildren, Cindy Hall Driscoll, Traci (Travis) Austin Bandy, Bryan Austin and Brad Austin; her great-grandchildren, Jeremiah Driscoll, Marlena-Renee Driscoll, Kathy Driscoll Johnson, H.P. (Robin) Driscoll III, Brandon (Christy), Caleb and Garrett Dillon; greatgreat-grandchildren, James Driscoll, Craigery Heath, Jordan and Darius Johnson, Sadie and Preston (IV) Driscoll, Sophia and Skylar Dillon. Also surviving is her sister, Frances B. Humes, of Glen Allen, Va.; sisters-in-law, Helen (Ken) Akers, Macie Austin, and Nellavene Austin; brother-inlaw, Arthur Austin; niece and nephews, Myanna Jaconski, Jackie Humes and Clyde Humes, Judy Akers, Dot Carter, Doris LaPrad, Elizabeth Nichols, Greg Akers, Howard Austin, Diane Ray and Jimmy Austin; many cousins and other family members; former daughters-inlaw, Becky Brown, Kathryn Cuddy, Cheryl Ribble and Pam Paschal; special friends, Loretta and Jim Page and family, Jerry Tingler and Don Tingler.
The family would like to thank everyone involved in Katie's care at Berkshire and the many acts of kindness shown to Katie by the staff and the many visitors during her time there.
Funeral services will be conducted noon on Friday, September 19, 2008, at Oakey's Vinton Chapel with Dr. E. Wayne Sellers officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Flowers are appreciated or donations to the American Heart or Cancer Society or to your favorite charity. The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 18, 2008, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. at Oakey's Vinton Chapel, 540-982-2221.