Harold "Hal" Lloyd Austin of Staatsburg, NY died suddenly at Vassar Brothers Hospital on July 12, 2023, at the age of 85.

He was born in Watertown, NY on November 6th, 1937, the oldest son to the late Lloyd V. Austin and Eleanor Whitford Austin.

He graduated high school in 1955 and went on to RIT in Rochester where he discovered he was not college material and went to work for AT&T in Rochester, NY. Shortly after starting that job, he enlisted in the Air Force in 1957 and was stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. It was on Virginia Beach in 1958 that he met the love of his life and future wife, Janie Ola Powell from Stanardsville, VA. They were married in the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church in Dyke, VA on January 3rd, 1959. He was then sent to Honolulu, Hawaii to continue the rest of his 4-year commitment with the Air Force.

After leaving Hawaii, he and his family moved back to Rochester and he continued with his job for AT&T. In 1962, he found his calling and went to work for IBM, where he continued to work until his retirement in 1999. His career with IBM took him and his family to many places - Lexington, KY, Austin, TX, Medway, MA and then finally in 1974, he moved his family to the Hudson Valley to work for IBM East Fishkill and IBM Poughkeepsie. His career as an engineer had him working on his love of taking apart machinery and computers and putting them back together.

Hal was an avid biker and hiker; he was known to love his long rides in the Hudson Valley and in the Blue Ridge Mountains while visiting family in Virginia. He would take his young family on many hikes in the different states they lived in where he also pursued his love of outdoor photography. He also had a passion for woodworking and carving. He made many beautiful pieces of furniture for his wife, daughter, granddaughter and grandson and carved many walking sticks for family and friends. He designed and built his own sawmill and spent years cutting and sawing his own lumber for projects.

He is survived by his wife, Janie, of almost 65 years; his children, Carla Cruger (George) and Michael Austin of Staatsburg; two grandchildren, Christen Rochman (Brandin) of Fishkill, NY and Jarrett Cruger (Ilana) of S. Salem, NY; and two great grandsons, Ari Cruger-Zaken and Logan Rochman.

He is also survived by his siblings, Alice Antwine (Jerry) and Mary Austin, both of Edwards, NY; and many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews in Stanardsville, VA, Florida, New York, and Ottawa, Canada.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Raymond Austin (Karen).

His wake and interment will be private and at the convenience of his family.

Arrangements are by Sweet's Funeral Home, Hyde Park. To leave an online condolence, please visit Hal's obituary page at www.sweetsfuneralhome.com.