Luther D. "Lou" Austin Jr., 89, Brookings, died July 5, 2002, of natural causes at a local care facility.

Mr. Austin was born Sept. 30, 1912, in Lincoln, Neb., to Luther D. Austin Sr. and Helen B. Austin.

He moved to California as a boy, and was raised and educated in the San Francisco Bay area. He attended U.C.L.A. and majored in business administration.

He served in the U.S. Navy during and following World War II. He was honorably discharged May 26, 1952.

He was employed as a purchasing agent for several electronics companies in the Silicon Valley, and retired in 1984 as a head buyer for Litton Industries.

Mr. Austin was a member of the Palo Alto Masonic Lodge for many years. He enjoyed many outdoor activities and was a physically active person. He raced motorcycles into his 70's.

He met Georgia "Hazel" Austin and they were married Nov. 3, 1989, in Brookings.

He is survived by his wife, sons from a previous marriage, David S. Austin, Santa Clara, Calif., Richard A. Casey, Eugene, Mike L. Casey, San Jose, Calif., brother, Richard Austin, Brookings; stepson and daughter-in-law, Raymond A. and Claire Weeber of Paris, France. Also surviving are four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to The Parkinson Foundation, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97201

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 13, at Redwood Memorial Chapel, 1020 Fifield St., Brookings. The U.S. Coast Guard will be scattering Mr. Austin's ashes at sea at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Redwood Memorial Chapel.