Phillipsburg, KS – Delbert "Del" William Austin, age 91, died April 24, 2014 at the Phillips County Retirement Center, Phillipsburg, Kansas.

Delbert Austin was born February 8, 1923 in Gorham, Kansas, a son of the late Lewis Lemuel and Jodie Lillian Dillingham Austin. His wife of 56 years, Jean Irene Gruver Austin; sisters Alice Paulsen, Geraldine Van Horn, and Bonnie Claggett; and brothers Elmer, Gerald, Kenneth, and Homer preceded him in death.

Mr. Austin graduated from Kirwin (KS) High School with the Class of 1940. He worked on the farm after graduating and went to Wichita to work for Beech Aircraft. There he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed for three and a half years with the Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 6 (C.A.S.U.) in Alameda, CA. After his discharge from the service, Mr. Austin returned to Wichita and his job with Beech Aircraft. He began working for the W. W. Virtue Dry Goods Company and found opportunities to further his education by taking correspondence courses from International Accountants Society and the College of Advance Traffic and Modern Office Management. W.W. Virtue Dry Goods Company of Wichita, KS merged with the J. M. McDonald Company with general offices and warehouse in Hastings, NE. Mr. Austin took over the Hastings warehouse operations facility for 108 stores throughout the Midwest and California in 1956 and retired in 1983. Del was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hastings, NE and more recently was a member of the United Methodist Church of Phillipsburg, KS. Mr. Austin loved gardening, was an accomplished wood crafter, and also painted in oils.

Del Austin was the current Pope and Young Club world record holder for a whitetail deer taken with a recurve bow and arrow, a record that has stood since 1962 when "Old Mossy Horns" met his fate on Halloween night. The Del Austin Buck has become a legend in archery archives and is currently part of the Bass Pro Shop traveling display of world records. Old Mossy Horns scored 279 7/8 points. Mr. Austin was awarded the first "Ishi" Award presented by the Pope and Young Club in 1963 for an outstanding world record. Minnesota wildlife artist Michael Sieve has painted "The Glory Days" Series, which depicts Old Mossy Horns, and Cynthie Fisher has painted this world record deer in "The King of the Bucks" Series for Bass Pro Shops.   Del's successful hunting story has been told in LEGENDARY WHITETAILS compiled by Larry Huffman and Dick Idol and also in WORLD RECORD WHITETAILS by Gordon Whittington, two hardback books, has been featured in film footage, magazines and newspapers these past 51 years.

Survivors include one sister-in-law Dorothea Forster Austin of Englewood, CO; two sons, Larry A. Austin (Doris) of Knoxville, TN and Ronald L. Austin (Stephanie) of Phillipsburg, KS; two daughters, Judith A. Lienemann (Dennis) of Murrells Inlet, SC and Sharon J. Wisker Disciascio of Portland, OR; eight grandchildren, Garth (Jennifer) and Christopher (Amy) Lienemann, Nicholas (Adriane) and Curtis Austin (Alfred Warren), Derek (Claire) Austin and Kandi (Steve) Hodges, John (Jennifer) and Susan Wisker; 13 great grandchildren: Molly, Grace, Connor and Avery Lienemann; Evan, Nolan, Spencer, and Sydney Austin; Olivia and A.J. Hodges; and Emma, Elijah and Erik Wisker; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Phillipsburg with Pastor Gary Davison officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg with Military Honors conducted by the United States Navy.

Mr. Austin will lie in state from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillips County Retirement Center.