BOBBY GENE AUSTIN, resident of the Hickory Withe Community, retired engineer for the State of Tennessee and husband of the late Norma Jean Austin, died at 10:30 P.M. Thursday, June 5, 2008 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. He was 71 years of age and died following an extended illness. Funeral services for Mr. Austin were conducted at 2 P.M. Saturday, June 7th at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with the Rev. Rhesa Davis, Pastor of the Feathers Chapel Baptist Church in Somerville, officiating. Interment followed in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in the Hillville Community near Whiteville. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home-Main Chapel of Somerville. Mr. Austin was born October 26, 1936 in the Vildo Community of Hardeman County, the son of the late Stanley Austin and the late Gladys Hays Austin. He attended Haywood County Schools and was a graduate of the Haywood County High School in Brownsville, Class of 1954. He was married July 14, 1956 to the former Norma Jean Sims, who preceded him in death on March 10th of this year. Mr. Austin was a former resident of Memphis for a number of years and had been a resident of the Hickory Withe Community for the past 35 years. He served as an engineer for the State of Tennessee for over 25 years before his retirement in 1999. Mr. and Mrs. Austin were devoted members of the Feathers Chapel Baptist Church where they participated in numerous Church activities. Known for his quiet mannerisms and devotion to his wife and family, Mr. Austin enjoyed computers and refurbishing vehicles. Survivors of Mr. Austin include two sisters, Aileen Durham of Oxford, MS and Geneva Barnes of Byhalia, MS; three brothers: James Austin of Memphis, Jimmy Austin of Byhalia, MS and Don Austin of Oakland; two granddaughters, Jennifer Austin and Karen Austin of Hickory Withe and one great-grandson, Anthony Austin. He was preceded in death by two sons, Charles Stanley Austin and Timothy Darnell Austin. Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Chris Austin, Jason DeLaney, Randy Clutts, B. J. Clutts, Roy Durham and Eddie Maher. The family request that Memorials be directed to Feathers Chapel Baptist Church, 3120 Feathers Chapel Drive, Somerville, TN 38068, (901) 465-8305.