Lawrence “Larry” Miner Austin, 93, died peacefully at home on Friday, December 1, 2023, after a valiant fight with cancer.  Larry was born June 19, 1930 in Bryn Mawr, PA, to John and Helen Austin. After attending St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. during World War II and enjoying summer camp at Lake Allagash on Moosehead Lake in Maine as a camper and counselor, Larry graduated from The Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia, PA and went to Princeton University where he played 150 lb. football and was in the Cottage Club. Upon graduation from Princeton, Larry enlisted with the U.S. Navy and served as Lieutenant (junior grade) on the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. Cross during the Korean War conflict. During college, Larry met the love of his life, Elizabeth (Dede) Harrison Austin, a Savannah native then at Sweet Briar College. They were married in 1953 at Christ Church in Savannah, GA, and enjoyed a wonderful life together in Savannah for 65 years until Dede’s passing in 2018. After a successful career as a stockbroker and investment adviser in Savannah for Johnson, Lane, Space, Smith & Co., Inc. and its successors, Interstate/Johnson Lane, Wachovia and finally Wells Fargo, Larry retired from Wells Fargo, and he and Dede split their time between Savannah and Highlands, NC.

Larry was a long-time member of the Vestry of Christ Church and served as Treasurer. Larry served on the local advisory board of the C&S Bank, the endowment committee of Savannah Country Day School, and the board of the Oglethorpe Club, and was active with the Civitan Club in Savannah. Larry was a long-time member of the Savannah Golf Club, the Savannah Yacht Club, the Oglethorpe Club, the Chatham Club, the Cotillion Club and the Century Club.  Larry had a love for tennis, playing regularly for many years, serving on the ranking committees for the Georgia Tennis Association and USTA (Southern Division), as a line and then chair umpire for professional tennis events, and as the tournament chairman for the U.S. Girls 12U Clay Court National tennis tournament when held in Savannah for three years. In later years, Larry enjoyed playing golf with fellow seniors at the Savannah Golf Club and in Highlands.

Larry was a devoted and caring husband, in particular during Dede’s difficult final years. He also enjoyed tomato juice on mac and cheese, peanut butter on tomato sandwiches, dixie-cup chocolate ice cream, cooking steaks with exact precision, and a good ride on the lawn mower.

Larry leaves behind his children, Lisa Dailey, Larry Austin (Samantha), and Jim Austin (Carol); his grandchildren, Austin Dailey (Kayla), Caroline Dailey, Elizabeth Reiff (Dan), Margaret Gross (Ben), James Austin and John Austin; and his great-grandchildren, Hayden and Carter Dailey, and Austin and William Gross. Larry was predeceased by his only sibling, John H. Austin, Jr., and his wife, Joan B. Austin.

The Austin family would like to express their gratitude for the incredibly wonderful and compassionate team of caregivers who cared for Dede for many years and then Larry, as well as for the care of Hospice of Savannah.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of Savannah, P.O. Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416.

A graveside service and burial at Bonaventure Cemetery is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 20, 2023.