Mrs. Rachel I. Austin, 92, of Richmond, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loving family on Monday, October 31. Born on November 28, 1929 in Randolph County, Indiana, she was the daughter of Otto E. & Ida E. Manning Harshman. She was a 1947 graduate of Spartanburg High School.
Mrs. Austin was formerly a bookkeeper at Wayne Dairy, from where she retired after 28 years of service. She attended Lifespring Church and enjoyed reading and spending time with her family.
Mrs. Austin will be missed by her daughters, Valeria LaFuze and Cheryl Heacox & her husband, Marvin; sons, Michael LaFuze & his wife, Debra and James Austin & his wife, Vickie; seven grandchildren, Adrian, Joshua, Rachel, Erik, Barry, Angela and Tammy; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; sister, Roberta Snyder and several nieces & nephews. Mrs. Austin was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Max; great-granddaughters, Stacey Alvey and Heather Alvey; sisters, Katherine Shank and Doris Britt; brothers, E. “Pete” Harshman and Francis Harshman.
Private services will be observed, followed by interment in Spartanburg Cemetery. Memorial contributions are encouraged for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or the American Cancer Society, 5635 West 96th Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278. The Smith-McQuiston & Webster Funeral Home, Fountain City, is assisting with arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.smithmcquistonwebster.com .