Willow Austin

1962 - 2015

Willow Austin
Jan 19, 1962 - Feb 6, 2015
Asheville, NC
Willow Glenne Austin (aka Wendy Susan Austin) died peacefully on Feb. 6 at her home in Asheville, North Carolina. A former resident of San Jose, she graduated from Willow Glen High School, San Jose in 1980 and attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before moving to Asheville. There she met David Waller from Savannah, Georgia at a Forum seminar. David and Willow were soon married and enjoyed a loving and rewarding life together. Willow was a very creative and community oriented person who became an important inspirational leader in Asheville. She formed a number of active women's groups where she forged many lasting friendships. She was both artistic and imaginative and enjoyed creating and selling unique hand crafted clothing items and decorative wall hangings at festivals and galleries. She and Dave were blessed with a daughter, Anna Grace Waller, currently 17 years old, now attending the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Anna has achieved recognition in a national contest for her original paintings. Proud parents Dave and Willow were recently able to attend the awards ceremony at Barton College, North Carolina.
After battling a brain tumor for many years, Willow contracted spinal cancer in 2014 and was bedridden for the last six months. She was fortunate to have Dave by her side and Hospice care while staying at home. Willow is survived by her loving husband Dave Waller, talented daughter Anna Grace, brother James Austin, Oakland sister Lisa Austin and niece Sara, Newbury Park, father Avery Austin and step-mother Brenda Newell-Austin, San Jose. Willow's love, generosity and passion for the arts touched all who knew her and she will be remembered and missed by her loving family and friends.