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David Austin

January 22, 2019
Kalamazoo, MI

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David Austin, beloved husband of Gail Emmons Austin, passed away peacefully at Rose Arbor Hospice on January 22, 2019, after a brief illness. David was born in September of 1938 in Woolwich, London, England to John "Jack" and Elsie (Lucas) Austin. Two years later, the London Blitz began, raining down terror on London. The Battle of Britain raged in the skies overhead, and David's earliest childhood memories were shaped by events both during and after World War II. David attended Woolwich Polytechnic, where he studied engineering and building construction. He then served two years in the Royal Air Force as a National Serviceman stationed in England. His father passed away in 1976, and in 1979, David and his mother emigrated to the United States to join his brother, Bert Austin, in Benicia, California, where David worked in engineering sales. There he met Gail, and they were married in 1985. In 1989, they moved to Gail's hometown of Kalamazoo. David had always loved fine men's clothing, and enjoyed his work at Jacobson's, Redwood & Ross, and Sydney at the Radisson before retiring. David loved gardening in the summer, traveling to warm, sunny destinations in the winter, and attending MINI on the Mack rallies with Gail in their MINI Cooper S in 2013, 2015, and 2017. David was a life-long supporter of Charlton Athletic Football Club, attending matches as a child with his father, and with Gail while visiting London in recent years. Around five years ago, David became interested in baseball, learned how the game was played, and became a loyal Detroit Tigers fan. David was preceded in death by his parents and his brother. He leaves behind his loving wife Gail, cousins Pauline Hind, Donald Stevens (Christine), Sheila (Brian) Blake, Yvonne (George) Doward, Christopher (Yvonne) Austin in England; David (Sue) Austin and Grace (Austin) Carter in Australia; brother-in-law and sister-in-law John and Lynne Boumazos of Naperville, Illinois, three nephews, Nicholas (Jennifer), Andrew (Kendra), greatnephew Jackson, and Christopher (Emily) Bournazos; also, his two devoted canine companions, Daisy and Sugar Plum. A memorial service will be held at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007, on Saturday, March 30, 2019, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and memorial service at 11:00 a.m. In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in David's memory to Rose Arbor Hospice, www.hospiceswmi.org for their extraordinary kindness and care; or to The RAF Benevolent Fund, www.rafbf.org. whose mission is to locate and assist former National Servicemen who are facing difficulties. Please visit David's personalized online guestbook at www.langelands.com.