McMinnville resident and Van Buren County native Kenneth Russell Austin, 77, died Aug. 6 at River Park Hospital after an extended illness.An electrician and plumber in the construction industry, he was the son of the late Willard and Polly Bounds Austin, and was a member of the Church of God. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Katherine Fults Austin, sisters Mattie Anderson, Jessie Mae Harris, and Gladys Maxwell, and two brothers, Lester and Ed Austin.He is survived by sons and daughter-in-law Darrell Austin, and Harold and Freda Austin of McMinnville, daughter Carole Clark of McMinnville, five grandchildren Jonathon, Tara Sue, and Amanda Austin, Josh Morton and Russell Clark, great-grandson Caden Hobbs, brothers Riley Austin of McMinnville and Perry Austin of Ringgold, Ga., sisters Eunice Pannell of Maryville, Mable Ann Hanes of Georgetown, and Ethel Sasta of Michigan, and several nieces and nephews.Funeral service is Monday at 2 p.m. at High’s Chapel with Michael Harris officiating. Burial will follow at Frazier’s Chapel Cemetery in White County.