Obituary of Austin Hines

Austin Hines, Jr. was called to Heaven on Saturday, June 11, 2022, after a lengthy illness. He was born on May 23, 1943 in Covington, Virginia, to Austin "Curly" Hines, Sr. and Juanita Childs Hines (later Juanita Halterman). He grew up in Covington and nearby Jonestown, Virginia with his grandparents, later moving to the Washington D.C. area at age 10, where his mother and stepfather Bernard Halterman lived. Austin graduated from Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia in 1963, and went on to attend the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and Athens College (now Athens State University) in Alabama, before being called for the Draft in 1965. He served three years in the United States Navy, receiving the rank of Fireman (E-3) before being honorably discharged. Upon his 1968 discharge, he returned to Arlington and worked as a cab driver while earning his associate degrees in sociology and philosophy as well as earning certifications for commercial boat driving and air conditioning mechanics. In the early 1980s he moved down to Sarasota County in southwest Florida, where he married Ellen Ekey. They had two children together, Amanda and Allen Hines. In the late 1980s, the couple divorced, and he returned to Arlington. Wishing to become a nurse, Austin returned to school, receiving a practical nursing degree from Arlington City Schools' continuing education program in 1989. He later settled in Martinsburg, West Virginia, with his longtime companion Shirley Smarr, where he spent many years before finally retiring to Pensacola, Florida to be closer to his brother James Michael "Jim" Halterman, Sr. after the deaths of Juanita and Bernard Halterman. In the spring of 2017, he met Hilda Ring, fell in love, and in February 2018 they were married. Sadly, Hilda passed away in October 2020. He is preceded in death by his parents, Austin "Curly" Hines, Sr., and Juanita Childs Hines Halterman; as well as his stepfather, Bernard Avis Halterman, Sr.; his daughter, Amanda Hines; and his wife, Hilda Hines. He is survived by his siblings Bernard Avis "Butch" Halterman, Jr. of Alexandria, Virginia, and James Michael "Jim" Halterman, Sr. (Janet Halterman) of Pensacola, Florida; as well as his ex-wife Ellen Ekey Hines and son Allen Hines, both of Sarasota, Florida; longtime friend and companion Shirley Smarr, of Martinsburg, West Virginia; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces. Austin's cremation was performed by Family-Funeral & Cremation at 5627 N. Davis Hwy. in Pensacola. His service will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery (1 Cemetery Rd., Pensacola) on Thursday, July 28 at 10:30 a.m.