Austin Arthur Wakeman
Sept. 8, 1920-Sept. 20, 2015
Menlo Park, California

Austin passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 20, at age 95 following a brief illness.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marjo Shirreffs Wakeman, his son Stephen of Menlo Park, his daughter Kristin Hanggi and her husband John of Marietta, Georgia, his grandchildren Elizabeth Johnston and her husband Edwin of Woodstock, Georgia, Michele Harris and her husband Brent of Marietta, Georgia, and his great-grandchild Annajane Johnston.

Austin was born in Brewster, Minnesota, the youngest of eight children, and later hitch-hiked to Southern California. He served in the U.S. Army in the Corps of Engineers and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division in Germany from 1945-46. Returning home, he met and married Marjo in May 1947. He received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Southern California in 1950.

Moving the family to Menlo Park in 1954, Austin founded Guardian Automatic Sprinklers Inc., which he operated until December 1986 when he retired.

Family vacations were spent water skiing – particularly at Lake Pillsbury. Besides being a cigar aficionado, Austin was a great golf enthusiast and was a member of and served on the board of the Palo Alto Hills Country Club. He and Marjo played golf throughout the world. Later in life, he and Marjo enjoyed watching sports – especially every Giants game, the 49ers and golf.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff of Stanford Hospital and Clinics for their compassionate care in Austin’s last days.

Tags: veteran