Joseph "Joe" Eugene Austin

Joseph “Joe” Eugene Austin, 77, of Candler, passed away on Friday, September 29, 2023, at his home surround by his wife and children.

Joe was a son of the late Albert and Meta Ingle Austin. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Wilma “Tootsie” Miller, Mary Frances Roberts, and Kathleen Fish (and the late Jerry Fish); brothers, Paul Austin (and his surviving wife Doris) and the Rev. Don Austin (and his surviving wife Vivian); and one grandchild, who was the infant twin to Mitchell Warren.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Linda Jameson Austin; son, Jody Austin (Jennifer); daughters, Stephanie Warren (Ricky), and Janelle Henson (Jason) all of Candler; grandchildren, Megan Hipp (Dillon), Mitchell Warren (Brianna), Riley Henson, Clayton Austin, Tucker Austin, Lilly Austin, Mikayla Carter, and Jacob Carter; great-grandchildren; Lillie Belle Hipp, Dolly Mae Warren, Solomon McClellan and an upcoming Hipp baby; and siblings, Doris Revis (Jerry), Alberta Watts, and George Austin (Gail).

Joe was a 1964 graduate of Enka High School. He worked at the American Enka Research Plant 1964-1970. He then began his career at the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, from which he retired in 2000 as their First Lieutenant following 30 years of service. He later worked in the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office as a Captain and a Detective, Buncombe County Schools as a School Resource Officer, and Substitute Teacher at Enka High School.

Joe served the Lord throughout his life. He served as a youth director, deacon, sang in the choir and drove the bus for the children’s ministry at Barberville Baptist Church in Waynesville, NC. He also served as a youth leader and deacon at Dellwood Baptist Church, Waynesville. He helped with the construction of the new church on Jonathan Creek for Dellwood Baptist Church. Joe loved giving back his talents that the Lord endowed him with and offered many children respite care in their home during times of need from Broyhill Children’s Home in Clyde, NC. He also opened his family’s home to host foreign exchange students, whom love him deeply. Joe also served as a deacon and was very active in his home church, Pole Creek Baptist Church.

In retirement years, he enjoyed working with First Step Farm and taking care of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed fishing with his family, woodworking, cooking BBQ, Sunday lunches at the house with his family around, working in the yard, working in his garden bed built by Mitchell, and his very favorite holiday was Christmas – he loved playing Christmas music.

His family will greet friends beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at Pole Creek Baptist Church in Candler. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Dept. Honor Guard will stand guard throughout the visitation. The funeral service will follow at 12:30 p.m. and will be livesteamed on the church’s website https://polecreek.org/. Pastors Ben Heise and Chase Harris, of Pole Creek Baptist Church, and Associate Pastor Allen Rash, of Trinity Baptist Church, will officiate. Pews will be reserved for all DMV employees, retirees, and law enforcement. Entombment will then take place at Garrett-Hillcrest Cemetery Mausoleum, Waynesville. The committal service will be officiated by the Rev. Dennis Thurman.

Mr. Austin’s family wishes to thank CarePartners, specifically their nurses, Nick and Roxy, the nurses on the Neuro Trauma unit at Mission Hospital, their family and friends who provided support and prayers to the family, and to Linda for being his devoted caregiver.

His family has established a scholarship fund in Joe’s memory for the Enka High School Future Farmers of America to further a student’s education. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions directly benefiting that fund be made to Linda Austin, 128 Meadowbrook Acres, Candler, NC 28715.