William R. “Bill” Austin

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Mr. William R. “Bill” Austin, 77, died Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at The Elison in Oxford, MS. The memorial service will be Friday, February 17, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. in the chapel of Waller Funeral Home with the Rev. Chris McAlilly officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 12:30 P.M. Burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemetery.

Bill was born on June 13, 1945, in Birmingham, AL to the late Russell and Corrine Austin. He honorably served his country as a Private 1st Class in the United States Navy, with four years being spent overseas in Morocco. Bill was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Pine Bluff, AR, and active in the Knights of Columbus, achieving the Fourth Degree and holding the title “Sir Knight”. While he never mentioned it much, he had a heart for helping others and in turn it helped him sustain life longer. Charities that he and his late wife, Dottie, supported were the Catholic Daughters of America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Wounded Warrior Project to name a few.

Bill’s career took him and Dottie to numerous cities to include Tuscaloosa, AL, Paris, TN, Meridian, MS and ultimately, Pine. Bluff, AR. While Pine Bluff was where he spent the majority of his time, his heart was always with his Alma Mater, the University of Alabama – Roll Tide! Bill graduated in 1969 from the University of Alabama with a degree in Business Administration. It is this degree that led him to a long and successful career as Sr. Vice President of Administration/Human Resources for Central Moloney, Inc, located in Pine Bluff. During this time, he held positions as President of the Arkansas Self Insurers Association, The Arkansas Guaranty Fund and a multi-year Board Member commitment for Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Bill always devoted himself fully to the task at hand and set a fine example of integrity in the leadership positions he held. He stuck to the principle of fairness with the motto of a hard days work, equals a good days pay. In addition to his parents, brother and sister, he is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 53-years, Dorothy Marie Beckman.

Bill’s career did not solely define him. He loved the outdoors to include camping, canoeing, fishing and various other activities. A hobby he picked up later in life was painting since his longtime influence was The Happy Painter, aka Bobb Ross.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Amanda Leigh Moorhead and her husband, Hunter of Oxford, MS; son, William Matthew Austin and his wife, Mary Beth of Oxford, MS; and four grandchildren, Mariam Catherine Austin, Maggie Elizabeth Austin, Wilson Matthew Moorhead, and Reed Lundy Moorhead.