John Austin

John Frost Austin, 84, died peacefully at St. Mary’s Hospital Grand Junction, CO. Known to his family as Mr. Invincible, John made to 84, despite being thrown 90 feet by a hit and run driver last May, an accident which ultimately led to his demise after some prolonged infections. He is survived by his 5 children; Janet, Rusty, Cynthia, Courtney and Kurt; and their mother, Betty Austin; and their spouses, Julie Austin of Los Angeles, California, David Hair of Lake Wylie, South Carolina, Dominique Panichi of Hobart, Tasmania; and 9 grandchildren; and 1 great grandson. John was preceded in death by son, Richard, and two sisters, Elizabeth Austin of San Antonio, Texas and Sally Scoggins of Parker, Colorado. John was born in Ponca City Oklahoma to Hazel (Chapman) and Jack Frost Austin. He moved to Colorado around 1950 and graduated from the School of Mines in Golden, Colorado in 1954. He settled in Littleton, Colorado, where he had an extensive career in Petroleum Engineering. In early 2000, John bought a beach orchard in Hotchkiss, Colorado, and had recently finished turning the orchard into a vineyard. While residing in Hotchkiss, John was involved in Kiwanis, book clubs and attended St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Delta, CO. His children attribute their love for the outdoors and skiing to their Pop. A service will be held the Friday after Thanksgiving, 2017, near Golden, CO. Exact location and time TBA. The family has chosen debra.org for any donations in John’s name. http://www.brownscremationservice.com/listings provides an on online space for condolences.