Stephen Fuller Austin 1926-2022


Stephen Fuller Austin, 96, born Jan. 10, 1926, in San Antonio, Texas, returned to God on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 in La Vernia. He was a distant cousin of Stephen Fuller Austin, “The Father of Texas.”

Stephen served in the U.S. Army, 36th Coast Artillery, Panama Canal Zone in World War II. He was a real estate developer, rancher, and oil producer. He developed the original Unit 1 of Seneca Estates in Leon Valley and partnered in developing Unit II. On submitting his Unit 1 Plat for Leon Valley approval, Stephen was informed that the City of Leon Valley did not exist; the original incorporation was invalid because it had encompassed several times more territory than the General Law allowed. Austin polled the prior elected Council and found that they would co-operate in a re-incorporation effort. Austin, who had some surveying experience, and Mayor Raymond Rimkus worked night and day to redraw the city’s boundaries so that it would include the required population count within the restricted territory and within the time limitations. The area was so sparsely settled that it required serious gerrymandering of the new boundaries, hence the strange shape of Leon Valley. Because of his work in initiating the re-incorporation and saving the city, and because of his name, Austin was referred to as the “Father of Leon Valley” by some of the early residents of the city. Austin and his family also built and operated the Seneca Country Club in Leon Valley for 25 years.

He was a lifelong Methodist until age 84, when he became a member of Trinity Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen Finis Austin and Sophie Lathrop Smith Austin; sisters Sophye Anne Austin and Merwyn Austin Gipson and husband Everette F. Gipson.

Stephen is survived by his beloved wife, Sue Sheffield Austin; stepchildren Kevin R. Gillis, Jeffrey S. Gillis, and Sheryl Burch-Murphy; eight step-grandchildren; many step-great-grandchildren; and niece Shannon E. Maxey and husband Graham.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m. in the Finch Funeral Chapel in La Vernia, officiated by Pastor Michael Mumme.

Interment followed in the Concrete Cemetery in La Vernia.

Memorial donations may be made to a church of one’s choice or the Salvation Army.