Robert L. Austin

Champaign- Robert L. Austin, 70 , of Champaign left this life at 8:15 p.m. Thursday Jan. 31, 2013 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday Feb. 8, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center Champaign - Urbana Chapel 710 N. Neil St. in Champaign. Officiating will be Pastor Michael Giboney. Burial will be in Lincoln Memorial Gardens in Urbana. Visitation will be held from 9 - 11 a.m. on Friday. Please join the family in sharing memories on Robert's tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com. Robert was born Dec. 10, 1942 in Conway, Arkansas. He was the son of Hardin and Freddie Mae Ester Hardin. He married Barbara J. Wade on July 28, 2003. She survives. Also surviving is his mother Freddie Mae Ester of Marianna, Arkansas. Four sons; Tony Austin of Chicago, IL, Derrick Austin of Clarksville, TN, Robert Austin of Chicago, IL, and Eugene Jackson of Champaign, IL. Six daughters; Latonya Austin, Natasha (Samuel) Coleman, Dominique Jackson, Kendra Jackson, Shannon (Steve) Blount, and Keymara Jackson all of Champaign. Three brothers; Jerry Ester, Brady Ester, and Byron Austin. Six sisters; Yvonne Robinson, Brenda Lane, Carolyn Coleman, Deanna Austin, Lena Mae Austin, and Lisa Taylor. Also surviving are 34 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, an aunt Johnnie Hendrix of Kansas City, MO and an uncle Taft Gault in Arkansas; along with several nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his father and a brother Hardin. Robert drove a truck for Able Oil for 40 years. He retired in 2009. He belonged to the Teamsters Union 731. Robert enjoyed fishing and he loved watching westerns on television. His family will always remember him as a wonderful man who was caring and always provided for them.