Obituary: William V. Austin, Sr., 82, of Branford

Information via W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home

William V. Austin, Sr., of Branford, died Sunday October 1, 2017 at Apple Rehab in Guilford. He was the beloved husband of Alice Austin of Branford. Mr. Austin was born in New Haven August 5, 1935, son of the late Warren V. and Mabel Morse Austin.

He was a general foreman for the Connecticut DOT, retiring in 1991. In 1982 he received an employee safety suggestion award from the state Transportation Commissioner. He suggested that salvaged delineator posts painted bright orange be used to support damaged post wire guide railings.

The post was designed to give on impact thereby reducing the severity of an accident. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening, and bowling, and he was a lifetime member of the Branford Elks Club, B. P. O. E. 1939.

Besides his wife he is survived by his children, Deborah (Louis) Porrello of Branford, Doreen (Mark) Esposito of Easton, CT and William V. (Michelle) Austin, Jr. of Clinton; his grandchildren, Trevor (Lindsay) Austin, Miranda Porrello, Jason (Lissa) Porrello, Meghan Austin and Michael Austin; his great-grandchildren, Brady and Connor Austin, Jace Porrello and Zoe Menard; his brother Donald Austin and his sisters Jean Austin, Joan Perrotti, all of Branford, and Virginia Austin of Palm Harbor, FL. He was predeceased by his sister, Darlene “Dolly” Gentile.

Friends are invited to a memorial service Saturday morning at 10:00, with visitation prior to the service from 9:00 - 10:00, at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2911 Dixwell Ave., Suite 203, Hamden, CT 06518. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of William Austin, please visit our Tribute Store.