1922
T.D.
2011
T.D. Austin
August 22, 1922 — July 14, 2011
Mr. T.D. Austin, 88 of Amarillo passed away on July 14, 2011.
Services will be at 2:00 PM Monday, July 18, 2011 at LaGrone-Blackburn-Shaw Coulter Chapel, 8310 S. Coulter Road, Amarillo, TX with Col. Clayton Hoffman- Retired USA Army officiating. His burial will follow at Llano Cemetery with Military Honors rendered by VFW Post 430.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5-7 PM Sunday, July 17, 2011.
T. D. Austin went home to be with the Lord July 14, 2011, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Aug. 22, 1922, to Thomas Demetrius “Met” and Ida Adams Austin in Wellington, Collingsworth Co, TX. He lived in the Wellington area and surrounding communities for many years, attending school there and working.
At the premature death of his father, Met, in August, 1932, Ida, T.D. and his sister, Catherine, were determined to keep their family of six children together. During those depression years, this meant hours of much hard physical labor for long hours for the young widow and oldest children. He often remarked that it was his oldest sister, Modene, who taught him how to learn while he lived with her and her husband for a year. T.D. went to wheat harvests in the summers, potato harvests in Idaho, and all who could, picked cotton. During the time of the “New Deal” programs implemented by the Roosevelt Administration, T.D. found work in the National Youth Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps to earn money for the struggling family. The discipline and work ethic provided there would prepare him and thousands of other young men for what lie ahead during the war years.
The day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, T.D. and hundreds of Texas Panhandle youth found their way to the nearest recruiting office to sign up for service to their country. T.D. chose the U.S. Navy, he said because he saw the Army camping in tents on the ground and marching a lot. He said that the Navy promised three meals a day and a bed to sleep in. They failed to tell him, however, that he would have to learn how to swim.
He served on the destroyer, USS Isherwood, as a gunner’s mate from 1942 to Oct. 1, 1945. Before the surrender of Germany and Japan, this ship and the brave men aboard her would serve their country in many treacherous foreign waters in battle operations impacting the outcome of World War II. The Isherwood joined the British Home Fleet in search for the German battleship Tirpitz in the North Atlantic in August 1943. Unknown to the crew at the time, the ship was part of an escort convoy for Winston Churchill aboard the SS Queen Mary when he met with President F. D. Roosevelt in Halifax, N.S. Afterwards, the crew received a “Well Done” from the British Prime Minister.
After returning to the U.S. for reassignment, the ship carried out anti-submarine sweeps of the cold Alaskan waters and bombardments of the Kurile Islands. New orders took Isherwood to the South Pacific to take part in the Philippine Invasion. She also participated in the battles of Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon and the invasion of Okinawa. On April 22, 1945, while participating in the Invasion of Okinawa, a kamikaze plane made a dusk attack on the destroyer with a direct hit at No. 3 five-inch gun mount, resulting in over eighty men killed, wounded or missing. Isherwood was badly damaged and took over 30 days to return to Pearl Harbor for repairs. As she depart Pearl Harbor after repairs, the captain read the new orders and announced to the crew, “We are going home,” and headed for San Francisco Bay with the remainder of her gallant, battle scarred young sailors and officers. When permission to go ashore was granted, T.D., and many other sailors, fell to their knees kissing the ground and even eating the dirt of their homeland while giving thanks to God for coming home alive.
Returning to Wellington and his family, friends, and much needed rest and recovery, he decided to go to Amarillo for employment opportunities. He later enrolled in Draughon’s Business College in order to prepare for the business world, and he met his future wife-to-be, Marilyn Davis, from Phillips, TX. They were married Sept. 28 1951.
T.D. became interested in the latest electronic gadget of his time, television, and decided to attend Texas Trade School in Dallas, TX, for radio and television training. He earned his FCC license, and it became his “ticket” for another exciting and adventurous career. His first T.V. engineering position was at KMID Midland/Odessa, TX. T.D. kept up with the many changes in television and advanced in the industry. He worked in the broadcasting business in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado before another major change in telecommunications came into being. The United States was rapidly being connected to what was to become known as cablevision. Cities, towns, and small communities were issuing franchises to have this service. He worked for a major cablevision company, building and managing systems before branching out on his own. In partnerships with other associates, he acquired and built franchises in Canyon, many small communities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and in East Texas.
T.D. supported his children and grandchildren. He encouraged them to attain the best education they could, to follow their dreams, and stand up for themselves. He was an outstanding patriot – loyal to his country and flag – instilling the legacy of freedom in his children and grandchildren. Affectionately called Papaw by his grandchildren and great grandchildren, he inspired them to continue the love of honor and country.
T.D. was a member of many organizations and fraternal orders throughout the years, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks and the Moose. He was a member of the VFW Post 430 in Canyon, and BPO Elks Lodge in Amarillo. He was a member of Kingswood Methodist Church in Amarillo. He had an incredible love of our nation’s history, and enjoyed traveling with his wife and family to many places.
In his retirement years, he always looked for opportunities. Well into his 60s by this time, after studying the internal workings of a computer, he remarked he thought he could build one. Thus began a new career building and repairing computers for friends, family members, and organizations.
T.D. is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marilyn Davis Austin; two daughters: Jenny Blessen and husband, Ron, of Amarillo; Teri Oaks and husband Russ of Norris, TN; four grandchildren: Aleshia Blessen, Laura Wolf, and husband, Ryan; Chris Blessen and wife, Allison Karr; Will Oaks; three great-granddaughters, Selah, Eden, and Jillian Wolf; a sister, Modene Horton of Wellington; a brother Jerry Austin of Childress; and numerous nephews and nieces and their children.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to VFW Post 430, P. O. Box 417, Canyon, TX 79015, or to Olivia’s Angels, BSA Hospice, P. O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105. The family would like to thank the staff at BSA for their support and kindness during the last days of T.D.s life. You are truly angels.
Services will be at 2:00 PM Monday, July 18, 2011 at LaGrone-Blackburn-Shaw Coulter Chapel, 8310 S. Coulter Road, Amarillo, TX with Col. Clayton Hoffman- Retired USA Army officiating. His burial will follow at Llano Cemetery with Military Honors rendered by VFW Post 430.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5-7 PM Sunday, July 17, 2011.
T. D. Austin went home to be with the Lord July 14, 2011, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Aug. 22, 1922, to Thomas Demetrius “Met” and Ida Adams Austin in Wellington, Collingsworth Co, TX. He lived in the Wellington area and surrounding communities for many years, attending school there and working.
At the premature death of his father, Met, in August, 1932, Ida, T.D. and his sister, Catherine, were determined to keep their family of six children together. During those depression years, this meant hours of much hard physical labor for long hours for the young widow and oldest children. He often remarked that it was his oldest sister, Modene, who taught him how to learn while he lived with her and her husband for a year. T.D. went to wheat harvests in the summers, potato harvests in Idaho, and all who could, picked cotton. During the time of the “New Deal” programs implemented by the Roosevelt Administration, T.D. found work in the National Youth Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps to earn money for the struggling family. The discipline and work ethic provided there would prepare him and thousands of other young men for what lie ahead during the war years.
The day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, T.D. and hundreds of Texas Panhandle youth found their way to the nearest recruiting office to sign up for service to their country. T.D. chose the U.S. Navy, he said because he saw the Army camping in tents on the ground and marching a lot. He said that the Navy promised three meals a day and a bed to sleep in. They failed to tell him, however, that he would have to learn how to swim.
He served on the destroyer, USS Isherwood, as a gunner’s mate from 1942 to Oct. 1, 1945. Before the surrender of Germany and Japan, this ship and the brave men aboard her would serve their country in many treacherous foreign waters in battle operations impacting the outcome of World War II. The Isherwood joined the British Home Fleet in search for the German battleship Tirpitz in the North Atlantic in August 1943. Unknown to the crew at the time, the ship was part of an escort convoy for Winston Churchill aboard the SS Queen Mary when he met with President F. D. Roosevelt in Halifax, N.S. Afterwards, the crew received a “Well Done” from the British Prime Minister.
After returning to the U.S. for reassignment, the ship carried out anti-submarine sweeps of the cold Alaskan waters and bombardments of the Kurile Islands. New orders took Isherwood to the South Pacific to take part in the Philippine Invasion. She also participated in the battles of Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon and the invasion of Okinawa. On April 22, 1945, while participating in the Invasion of Okinawa, a kamikaze plane made a dusk attack on the destroyer with a direct hit at No. 3 five-inch gun mount, resulting in over eighty men killed, wounded or missing. Isherwood was badly damaged and took over 30 days to return to Pearl Harbor for repairs. As she depart Pearl Harbor after repairs, the captain read the new orders and announced to the crew, “We are going home,” and headed for San Francisco Bay with the remainder of her gallant, battle scarred young sailors and officers. When permission to go ashore was granted, T.D., and many other sailors, fell to their knees kissing the ground and even eating the dirt of their homeland while giving thanks to God for coming home alive.
Returning to Wellington and his family, friends, and much needed rest and recovery, he decided to go to Amarillo for employment opportunities. He later enrolled in Draughon’s Business College in order to prepare for the business world, and he met his future wife-to-be, Marilyn Davis, from Phillips, TX. They were married Sept. 28 1951.
T.D. became interested in the latest electronic gadget of his time, television, and decided to attend Texas Trade School in Dallas, TX, for radio and television training. He earned his FCC license, and it became his “ticket” for another exciting and adventurous career. His first T.V. engineering position was at KMID Midland/Odessa, TX. T.D. kept up with the many changes in television and advanced in the industry. He worked in the broadcasting business in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado before another major change in telecommunications came into being. The United States was rapidly being connected to what was to become known as cablevision. Cities, towns, and small communities were issuing franchises to have this service. He worked for a major cablevision company, building and managing systems before branching out on his own. In partnerships with other associates, he acquired and built franchises in Canyon, many small communities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and in East Texas.
T.D. supported his children and grandchildren. He encouraged them to attain the best education they could, to follow their dreams, and stand up for themselves. He was an outstanding patriot – loyal to his country and flag – instilling the legacy of freedom in his children and grandchildren. Affectionately called Papaw by his grandchildren and great grandchildren, he inspired them to continue the love of honor and country.
T.D. was a member of many organizations and fraternal orders throughout the years, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks and the Moose. He was a member of the VFW Post 430 in Canyon, and BPO Elks Lodge in Amarillo. He was a member of Kingswood Methodist Church in Amarillo. He had an incredible love of our nation’s history, and enjoyed traveling with his wife and family to many places.
In his retirement years, he always looked for opportunities. Well into his 60s by this time, after studying the internal workings of a computer, he remarked he thought he could build one. Thus began a new career building and repairing computers for friends, family members, and organizations.
T.D. is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marilyn Davis Austin; two daughters: Jenny Blessen and husband, Ron, of Amarillo; Teri Oaks and husband Russ of Norris, TN; four grandchildren: Aleshia Blessen, Laura Wolf, and husband, Ryan; Chris Blessen and wife, Allison Karr; Will Oaks; three great-granddaughters, Selah, Eden, and Jillian Wolf; a sister, Modene Horton of Wellington; a brother Jerry Austin of Childress; and numerous nephews and nieces and their children.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to VFW Post 430, P. O. Box 417, Canyon, TX 79015, or to Olivia’s Angels, BSA Hospice, P. O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105. The family would like to thank the staff at BSA for their support and kindness during the last days of T.D.s life. You are truly angels.
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