Sandra U. Austin passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at her home in St. Louis.
She was the first of seven children born to Charles and Cornelia Unseld on February 19, 1940 in Louisville, Ky. Her parents preceded her in death. She graduated from Central High school in Louisville and went on to attend Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where she graduated with a degree in Education in 1962. Central State was also where she met her husband, Earl Austin of Dayton, Ohio. They were married on December 28, 1963 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Mrs. Austin spent 31 years as an elementary school teacher in Milwaukee, Syracuse, N.Y., and St. Louis. She was presented with the Distinguished Teacher Award from the Ferguson-Florissant School District for 31 years of Outstanding Service upon her retirement in 1993. Mrs. Austin had a love for teaching and a great passion for the development and personal growth of young people. She dedicated her life to making sure that young children achieved their goals in the classroom and in life. She is remembered as a firm, yet fair teacher who made sure that every child performed to the best of its ability. Mrs. Austin was a member of the Phi Delta Kappa Professional Teachers Sorority; Beta Chi Chapter in 1968, and she was also a member of the Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Alpha Phi Chapter in 1975, while in Milwaukee.
Mrs. Austin is survived by: her loving husband, Earl Austin; her children, Earl Austin Jr., Courtney Austin (Thompson); and Richard Unseld Austin; her grandchildren, Robin Thompson; Austin Thompson, Sean Thompson and Richard Unseld Austin, Jr.; her sister, Charles Jean Unseld (Clemons) of Louisville; her seven brothers, George Unseld, Westley “Wes” Unseld, Reginald Unseld, Robert Unseld, Isaac Unseld, Steve Bedford and Larry Bedford, one mother-in-law, two brothers-in-law, five sisters-in-law, one son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, along with many nieces, nephews, family, friends and former students.