CLASS OF 1955
July 9, 1937 - Nov. 28, 2018
Gerald Grant "Jerry" Austin passed away Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, in Oklahoma City. He was the only son of George Arnold and Nella Barr Austin.
Born July 9, 1937, in Hollywood, CA, the family soon moved back to Kansas City, KS. In 1940, the family moved to Osawatomie, KS, where he
attended all 12 years of school. In high school, he was class president for the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes. He served as the
president of KAYS his senior year and was the Grand Master of the local chapter of Demolays. After graduation, he received a scholarship to the
University of Kansas at Lawrence. It was here he met the love of his life. They were married two years later on June 7, 1958, in St. Joseph, MO. In 1959,
Jerry joined The Fleming Company in Topeka, KS, where he worked for 37 years. He started as a trainee and went on to become the Director of
Personnel. He was appointed President of the Oklahoma City division in 1975. In 1982, he was named president of the Eastern Region of
Fleming. A troubled operation, under Jerry's leadership, it was soon turned around and became profitable. In 1985, he and his family returned
to Oklahoma City, where he was named Executive Vice President of the corporation. In 1989, he was asked to take charge of the Western
operations, consisting of eight large distribution centers which were in trouble. This operation also turned around, and in 1992, Jerry
and his wife returned to Oklahoma City, where he was named Executive Vice President of Operations for the company. He retired in 1996.
Jerry was a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church beginning in 1983. He served in several positions including Chairman of
the Board. He was active in a number of fundraisers for projects of the church. He was also active on the first major fundraising committee
for Legal Services of Oklahoma. Jerry volunteered for Omniplex, now Oklahoma Science Museum, and served as it's president for five years.
During his tenure, the Omnidome was built, the first large screen theater in Oklahoma City. He was also a member of the Fortune Club.
Jerry is survived by his wife of sixty years. They have two children, Paul W. Austin and Kathy Austin Pendarvis, both attorneys in Oklahoma;
and his one grandchild, Austin Pendarvis. He was preceded in death by his sister, Carol Austin Holloman, of Cincinnati, OH.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, at the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.
The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association
or to the Oklahoma Science Museum.