Harold Dwain Austin

September 2, 1932 - December 3, 2017

A long time Hoxie, Ark. resident, Sergeant Major Harold Dwain Austin (US Army, retired), went to be with his Lord after a brief illness on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro, Ark. He was a veteran of both the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. He was combat infantryman and was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions at the Battle of Hue City during the Tet Offensive of 1968. He was 85. Dwain was born in Walnut Ridge, Ark. on Sept. 2, 1932 to Leonard and Cloyce (Waddell) Austin, the first of three children. He attended Hoxie High School graduating in 1950 and earned an associate’s degree in Applied Science from El Paso Community College in El Paso, Texas. He graduated from the 1st US Army NCO Academy, US Sgt. Maj. Academy, and the Vietnamese Language School. He was united in marriage to Cloyce Willene Fouts on Aug. 26, 1951. Unto this union, three children were born, David, Donald, and Dianna. He was drafted into service in February of 1953, serving in the US Army and retired after 26 years of distinguished service at the rank of Sgt. Major. His service took him across the globe to Korea, Vietnam and Southeast Asia, France, and the Panama Canal Zone. He was a drill sergeant during the Vietnam War at Ft. Dix, N.J. He was awarded the Bonze Star, Legion of Merit and numerous other commendations. He earned a Combat Infantryman Badge and was proud to have been lucky enough to have never received a Purple Heart, or as he jokingly called it the Enemy Marksman Badge. Dwain was a Master Mason and past Worshipful Master of the Hoxie Lodge #692. He was a deacon for many years and taught a men’s Sunday School class at both Hoxie Baptist Church and Crossroads Baptist Church in Portia, Ark. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Cloyce Austin; and a sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Joe Crawford. He is survived by his spouse of 66 years, Willene Austin, of the home; his three children, David D. Austin (wife Reneé) of Cheyenne, Wyo., Donald E. Austin of St. Augustine, Fla., and Dianna A. Willie (husband Thomas) of Jonesboro; one brother, Doug (wife Fran) of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; five grandchildren, Lisa M. Austin, Zachery D. Austin, Breanne (Austin) Stables, Joshua L. Austin, and Heather D. Tallmadge; four great grandchildren and one soon arriving, 12 nieces and nephews, and numerous family and friends. Pallbearers are Dewayne Gillian, Rick Brewer, Stan Schmidt, Anthony Ashlock, Joshua Austin, and Johnny Gaither. A viewing for immediate family will be at 9 a.m.,on Thursday, December 7 a public viewing and visitation will be held at 10 a.m. and a funeral service with Masonic rites will be held 11 a.m. at the Bryan Funeral Home in Hoxie with Bro. Lynn Garmroth officiating. A graveside full military service will be held immediately following at the Lawrence Memorial Park Cemetery in Walnut Ridge. The services are under the care of Bryan Funeral Home of Hoxie. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to any veteran’s hospital or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.