IMA AUSTIN
1919-2017
Ima Lee Austin, age 97, passed away in Houston, Texas, on June 5, 2017, after a brief illness.
She was an elegant and graceful woman, with an impeccable sense of style.
She was born in De Kalb, Texas, on August 11, 1919, and spent her early years in rural East Texas, notably Cookville and Mt. Pleasant, where she met the love of her life, Renford Austin. While Renford was stationed in England with the 351st Bomb Group during WWII, Ima supported the war effort by working at the Red River Munitions Plant in Texarkana. They were married in June 1945, three days after Renford was discharged from the Army, and settled in Dallas. Ima attended Draughon’s Business College, learned shorthand, and worked as a secretary at General Electric and Union Terminal before becoming a full-time homemaker.
Ima had an innate talent for fashion, decorating, sewing, painting, and just all-around creativity.
She was a woman of strong Christian faith, an avid bridge player, a Houston Astros fan, an ally of equal rights for women and minorities, and subscribed to healthy eating long before it was popular. She loved her life of supporting her husband and children. She was also a great cook, and her pecan pie is still legendary. She leaves a legacy of elegance, poise, respectability, fairness, and devotion to God and family.
Ima was predeceased by Renford, her husband of 59 years, her parents, two brothers and two sisters. She is survived by daughter Dian (Sandy), son Brent (Joanne), granddaughters Elizabeth Wanczak (Nick) and Katharine Austin, great granddaughter Clara Wanczak, nieces Melba Vail and Jean Gilbreath, and nephew Billy Gilbreath. The family thanks Carmen Moreno, Ima’s caregiver of many years, for her tender and devoted service that enriched the latter years of Ima’s life.
The memorial service is scheduled for 1:30 pm Tuesday, June 13, in the Chapel of Tallowood Baptist Church, 555 Tallowood Drive in Houston, with reception to follow. Ima and Renford were members of Tallowood for over 50 years.
Donations in Ima’s name can be made to Animal Justice League in support of her passionate love of animals (PO Box 924331, Houston TX 77292 or animaljusticeleague.org), to the Tallowood Foundation – Youth Scholarships (555 Tallowood Drive, Houston TX 77024), or to the charity of your choice.