Bob Austin

Fort Worth, Texas – Services for Bob Austin, 65, Lewisville, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Fort Worth.Mr. Austin died Saturday, April 19, 2008, in Dallas, from a heart attack. He was born June 11, 1942, in Houston, the son of Loren and Vivian Austin. He was raised in Courtland, Kan. He studied piano at Wichita State University and Juilliard School of Music, saxophone at the Paris Conservatory of Music and received a doctorate in choral conducting from North Texas State University.Mr. Austin accompanied opera stars Beverly Sills and Marilyn Horne, played sax with the big bands of Stan Kenton and Buddy Morrow, worked for choral conductors Roger Wagner and Robert Shaw, played on movie soundtracks from “How the West was Won” and “Horse Whispers” and conducted the Ice Capades Orchestra and Men’s Chorus at North Texas State. He worked with Lawrence, Kan., rock bands The Young Raiders and The Rising Suns during the 1960s. He also worked for Reuter Pipe Organ Co. in Lawrence and Vissor Roland Pipe Organ Co. in Houston. He served as music director and organist at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Fort Worth.Survivors include his wife, Haile, of the home; his parents, Salina, Kan.; a daughter, Robin, Richardson, Texas; a son, Scott, Dallas; and a grandson.