NORWAY — Lorin “Lonny” Austin, 85, of South Paris passed away, Saturday, March 2, at the Norway Rehabilitation & Living Center after a short illness.

Lonny was born July 27, 1927, in Wilton. He attended Wilton schools and graduated from Wilton Academy, where he was a member of the football team.

He was a World War II U.S. Merchant Marine veteran serving from 1942 to 1944. After completing his duty, he married his loving wife, Dora Douglass.

Lonny was a hard worker and worked for the Wilton Woolen Mill, International Paper Co., owned his own plumbing and heating business for many years and later retired from Hannaford Oil Co. in 1989.

After retirement, he and Dora spent 17 winters at their retirement home in Mesa, Ariz. Lonny loved people and never met a stranger. He made several friends in Arizona, and spent his time playing horseshoes, pool, golf, bowling, cards or helping someone with a project they were building.

He enjoyed all sports, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and being an active member of the Lions Club, Shriners and the Masonic clubs.

Lonny is survived by and was a loving husband to Dora for 66 great years of South Paris; his children, Bill Austin and his wife, Barbara, of South Paris and Darlene Hardy and her husband, David, of California; grandchildren, Lonny, Warren and Larry Austin, Jason Hardy and Jamie Hardy Freeze; great-grandchildren, Brandon, Klarissa, William, Kadin, Dillon and Brady.

Lonny will be greatly missed and remembered as a devoted husband, a proud dad, a loving gramp and true friend to many.

Words of condolence and tribute may be shared with Lonny’s family and friends on his tribute wall at www.wilesrc.com.