Austin W. Hudson

Obituary's Biography:

Austin W. Hudson, 87, of Round Lake, Il passed away on April 14, 2025, at Warren Barr North Shore in Highland Park, Il.

Life reflections of Austin W. Hudson…

Austin Walker Hudson was born April 23, 1937, in Wheeling, West Virgina.  He was the oldest of six children parented by Ruth Davis and Alfred Hudson.

As a child, Austin loved sports. Baseball, Basketball and Football were his sports of choice, and he excelled in all three.  While attending Lincoln High School, his basketball coach was instrumental in positioning him for an athletic scholarship to the University of Arkansas Pine Buff, formally known as Arkansas A.M. and N.  He majored in pre-engineering as well as playing basketball and football.  He was rated among the top basketball players in the Southwestern Conference.

While attending university, he met the love of his life, Mary Frances Nelson who was a speech and drama major. After graduating, they married on July 4, 1958, in Chicago Illinois and made a home on the south side.  Austin gained employment with the Ford Motor Company in Chicago Heights and was a loyal and dependable employee for 46 years.

Austin and Mary gave birth to their only daughter, Cheryl Denise Hudson in 1961. Friends would affectionately call him Big Hut and his daughter, Cheryl, Little Hut for she was his heart.  He was a wonderful father, uncle, a committed husband, brother and compassionate neighbor. 

As a retiree, Austin enjoyed being a grandfather to twin grandsons and granddaughter, loved maintaining his home and interacting with neighbors.  He was known for great expressions like, “I am doing the best I can while I can; God willing and the creek don’t rise and I am taking care of business.”

Austin was a no-nonsense man with a great sense of humor and a compassionate heart. He truly lived his life on his own terms.  He had a good life and after his failing health, Austin made his departure April 14, 2025, at 8:50 pm. He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings, Cecil, Sylvester and Karen.

He leaves to cherish his memories, his dutiful, loving wife Mary of 66 years, daughter Cheryl (Eric) Hudson-Jackson; grandchildren, Aaron (Ariel) Jackson, Ian Jackson, Taylor Jackson; his siblings, Delores Harris and David Hudson; and many nieces and nephews.

All funeral arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel, 410 East Belvidere Road, Grayslake, Il 60030.  For more information, please contact Strang Funeral Chapel (847) 223-8122 or visit www.StrangFuneral.org.