Warren Harding Austin

Warren Harding Austin 85 of Sanford passed away peacefully in the home he loved so much on Sunday October 8,2006. Funeral service will be held 3 p.m. Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Eric Porterfield and Rev. Gilbert McDowell 0fficiating. Burial will follow in Buffalo Cemetery.
Warren was born March 4, 1921 in Caldwell County NC. The son of William and Pansy Brown Austin, Warren's father died when he was only four years old. He was raised in Goldsboro; graduating from high school there in 1939. He went to Appalachian State Teachers College to work his way through college. He was a "walk on" for the wrestling team, having had no previous experience. He made the team and received a small scholarship his second year. Wrestling was quite a popular sport at Appalachian. In four years he lost only one match. His coach called him "Automatic" for he always won. He won two AAU championships, his only loss coming in his 3rd AAU match. In the year 2000 he entered into the "Hall of Fame" at Appalachian State University. This was a proud moment in his life.
After three years of college, Warren joined the U.S. Marine Corp. He was in the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. After the war, he returned to college and graduated in 1947.
Warren came to Lee County to teach and coach. He loved coaching, having coached many years in adult basketball, baseball, Little League football, and for many years he coached Little League baseball. Warren was a "life member" of the Optimist Club of Sanford. He worked for the youth of Sanford, working hard in all their projects. His favorite project was putting out the American Flag in the business district. He loved our American Flag.
He taught young boys in Sunday School and was instrumental in getting two scholarships started; the "Lee Fulton Scholarship" at Wake Forest and scholarships for the "Odd Fellows Home" in Goldsboro.
Warren retired from Sanford Brick, working there for 33 years. He was a devoted father and husband. His parents, sister Lila, and daughter-in-law, Carolyn preceded him in death.
Survived by his wife, Iris; sons, Steve Austin of Sanford, Mark Austin (wife Susan) of Charlotte, Monty Austin (wife Paula) of Raleigh; four grandsons, Matt, Bryan, Jeff, and Greg. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Lou Mathis (husband Warren) of Pinehurst, and several nieces and nephews.
He was truly a self-made man, a man of God, and loved so dearly by his family and from everyone whom they called "Coach".
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Miller- Boles Funeral Home and other times at the home.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: the Alzheimer's Association Eastern NC Chapter, 400 Oberlin Rd. Suite 220 Raleigh, NC 27605; Community Home Care and Hospice 110 Fields Dr. Suite B, Sanford, NC 27330 or the Boy and Girls Home Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450.