G. Austin Hart

G. Austin Hart, 77, of Woodstream Dr., Valdese, NC died Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at Mission-St. Josephs Hospital in Asheville, NC following a period of declining health. He was born November 16, 1930 in Knox Co. TN, and was a son of the late Samuel Roger Hart and Bessie Marie Varnell Hart. Austin served in the US Air Force during the Korean War, and was a member of El Bethel Baptist Church where he had served as the choir director. Austin was a former member and choir director of Zion Baptist Church and Amherst Baptist Church. He was employed for many years with Drexel-Heritage Furnishings. Austin was a member of the Southern Furniture Manufacturers Association in which he served as past president of the Traffic and Transportation Division. He was also a former member of the Catawba Valley Traffic Club and member of the Winston-Salem Traffic Club.Austin is survived by his wife, Barbara Carr Hart of the home; sons, Gary D. Hart of Mooresville, NC and Roger A. Hart of Morganton; and a daughter, Cheryl Hart Williams of Irvine, CA.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 23, 2008 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Rev. James Lambert and Rev. Ron Cooper officiating. Entombment will follow at Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum with military cryptside rites conducted by Valdese American Legion Post #234. The family will receive friends Friday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the residence, 3065 Woodstream Dr., Valdese. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 222 S. Church St., Suite 336 M, Charlotte, NC 28202 or to the American Heart Association, Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, Memorials and Tributes Processing, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216.