Ruth Irene Austin, 90, died Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at Sovah Health. Born June 17, 1927 at “The Hollow” (now Ararat) in Patrick County Virginia to the late Arnold Arthur Marshall and the late Myrtle Christine Dawson. Ruth moved to Schoolfield, VA from Hillsville, Carrol Co. VA during WWII, to work at Dan River Mills as a weaver.
She married Elba “Eb” Branscomb Austin on November 17, 1946 in the Schoolfield Baptist Church. Ruth met her husband, Eb Austin, while they both were working in… Read More » 4-A Weave Room, at Dan River Mills, Danville, VA. Ruth became a bookkeeper for Slater Food Service in 1959, then as payroll clerk and factoring agent (selling mortgages) for Wise Homes/Future Homeowners in Greensboro, NC, during 1962; then moving back to Danville, VA in 1963 and employed as bookkeeper and Assistant Treasure of Southside Manufacturing Corporation until Dec.
1972. Her hobbies usually paralleled her husband Eb’s hobbies. Both were enthusiastic rock hounds for many years, camped and hiked together, enjoyed drawing and painting.
However, their interest differed when Ruth took up the pursuit of genealogy. While Ruth would be busy searching through volumes of ledgers at courthouses or mulling over microfilms of old census records and genealogy books at libraries. Eb would hike around the streets of whatever city they visited, and perhaps read newspapers until their allotted time expired.
She maintained her research after his death and has extensive records of many families. She is preceded in death by her husband after caring for him for many years. She is also preceded in death by her sister Charlotte Elaine Gwynn.
She is survived by her close friend George Crowel, sister Virginia Mae Marshall Brady, daughter Judy Lewis of Winston Salem, stepson Jimmy Austin, stepdaughter Dianna Nance, grandchildren James Wilson, Jonathan Custer, Jerry Custer, Tom Buck, Mike Austin, Randy Austin, Kimberly Tilley Foley, great-grandchildren Echo Janisse, Amanda Crews, D.J Custer, Savannah Guiterrez, Addison Custer, Austin Buck, Patrick Doyle and Jack Doyle, and 6 great-great-grandchildren. Arrangements have been made with Norris Funeral Home on 58W Saturday June 9, 2018 with visitation to be held at 1pm and services to follow at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Danville Public Library to aid in the continuance of research.
Norris Funeral Services, Inc. and Crematory, West End Chapel, 511 Church Ave. Danville is serving the Austin family. Online condolences may be made at www.
norrisfuneral.com.
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