California Obituaries, Los Angeles County Submitted by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to their own work. The Downey Eagle May 11, 2001 Volume 9 Number 12 Genevieve J. (Betty) Austin mourned at 81 DOWNEY-Services were held Monday, May 7, at the First Presbyterian Church of Downey for Genevieve J. (Betty) Austin, a former board member of the Downey Regional Medical Center and a founding member and past Auxiliary president of DRMC. She was 81, and died April 30 in Downey after a long illness. Allen Korneff, CEO of Downey Regional Medical Center, called Austin an "unsung hero" who cared deeply about people. As a hospital board member, he recalled that she devoted herself to seeing that patients and their family members felt comfortable and cared for. J. Arthur Morris, close friend and long-time board member whose mother led the effort to form the hospital Auxiliary, recalled Austin's dedication to that cause. He added that she fostered a spirit of collaboration and generosity within the Auxiliary. Dr. Jordan Phillips remembered her as a fellow founding member of the Downey Symphonic Society. While others said there was not enough support in Downey to maintain a symphony, Austin's determination led to its founding. The retired gynecologist and Nobel Prize nominee also credited Austin for helping facilitate his laparoscopic surgery lecture to the DRMC medical staff, which led DRMC to be among the first hospitals in the country to perform this now widely used surgical technique. Austin was born in Newark, Delaware, to Mr. and Mrs. John K. Johnson. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and the University of Delaware. She married Arthur Crawford and moved to Southern California in 1941 after the start of World War II. They lived in Playa Del Rey and Brentwood before moving to Downey in 1955. Crawford pursued a career in finance with Rockwell and later several brokerage firms. He also participated in the incorporation of Downey as a city. Austin joined the Symphony Society, was a member of the Woman's Club of Downey and a founding member of the Downey Community Hospital Auxiliary. During her presidency, DCH moved to the Brookshire site, where she was on hand to welcome its first maternity patient on opening day in 1969. At the end of her term on the board by virtue of her Auxiliary presidency, she was the first such member elected to serve as a full voting member. She continued to serve more than 20 years on the Downey Regional Medical Center Board of Directors. After Austin retired from the board, her support of DRMC continued as both she and her husband J. Robert (Bob) Austin, whom she married in January 1983, became Charter Members of the Memorial Trust Foundation's 12:15 Club. They also remained active with the Downey Symphonic Society, where they had met in 1960. They shared a love of music, he as a singer with various choral societies and choirs, including the First Presbyterian Church choir, and she as an accomplished pianist. She also studied the harp and violin. Bob's daughter, Donna Palmberg, sang a poignant rendition of the couple's favorite song, "Always," at the conclusion of the funeral service. Austin is survived by four children, Priscilla Crawford, Marie Saale, Carol Crawford and Susan Terry; three grandchildren and Mr. Austin's four children and eight grandchildren. Donations in Austin's memory may be made to the Memorial Trust Foundation by calling 904-5055. The Downey Eagle May 4, 2001 Volume 9 Number 11 Genevieve J. (Betty) Austin mourned at 81 DOWNEY-Genevieve J. (Betty) Austin, former board member, founding member and past Auxiliary president of Downey Regional Medical Center, died April 30, in Downey at the age of 81 after a long illness. Services will be held Monday, May 7 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Downey.