Leslie James Austin, 83, of Pensacola, FL passed away peacefully at his home with his loving family by his side on Sunday, December 8, 2024.

Les was born and raised in Worthington, a small town in southwest Minnesota.

He started working in his dad's sheet metal shop while in the first grade and was paid a penny for each piece of metal. He worked for his dad throughout high school and became a Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker. This enabled him to pay for his college all the way to Harvard where he received his MBA. In addition to his MBA, he studied at the University of Missouri in Engineering for 4 years and the University of Kansas where he received his Degree in Architecture and Master of City Planning. While attending the University of Missouri he met Lynda who became his wife and partner in this adventure.

Upon completion of the degrees he earned, Les was offered a position with Charles Frazier at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island, SC, to help with a new design idea of a golf course resort along with housing development project. After working on the Sea Pines project, he was put in charge of another development on the Island, called Hilton Head Plantation. After the Hilton Head Plantation project, he started his own company of Austin Construction Company building mostly custom homes. He was known for his designs of big, beautiful bathrooms, a new approach to home building. In addition to Hilton Head, he built homes in Atlanta, Lexington, Kentucky, and in Nashville/Franklin, TN. Eventually he and Lynda moved to Pensacola, FL to be near family and was active in the home building and real estate business in Pensacola.

They raised two beautiful girls, Lyndsey and Leslie, and have five grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

They joined First Baptist Church the first weekend they arrived in Pensacola back in 1997 and have been active and faithful members ever since. Les and Lynda always attended Sunday School, and he also served on various committees including Building and Grounds and also the Finance committee.

A visitation will be held 1:30pm until a Memorial Service begins at 2:00pm Wednesday, December 11, 2024, First Baptist Church of Pensacola (Pleitz Chapel), 500 N Palafox St, Pensacola, FL 32504, with Dr. Dave Synder officiating.

WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!