Obituary of Franklin O. Auten

Franklin Oliver �Frank� Auten, age 82, of Boone, died Tuesday, November 4, 2014, at Glenbridge Health & Rehabilitation Center in Boone, following a lengthy illness. Frank will forever be remembered for his generosity, hospitality, jovial spirit and big laugh. He was born in North Belmont, Gaston County, NC, on March 20, 1932, to the late Franklin Benjamin and Gladys Madeline Bradshaw Auten. After graduating in 1951 from Belmont High School in Gaston County, where he was a member of the �Red Raiders, �he attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, on a football scholarship before suffering an injury. He later received a B.S. degree in physical education and social studies in 1957 from Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University) in Boone, NC, where he played one year of football as one of �the Duggins boys.� He maintained his love of football and golf after graduation and throughout his adult life. It was at Appalachian that he met his future wife, Janet Sue Houck Auten, whom he married August 24, 1957, in Boone. The Autens resided in Belmont, Asheville, and Charlotte from 1957 until 1963 when they returned to Boone. Frank worked as the district sales manager for Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co. before moving to Boone in the �60s, to work with his father-in-law in the family business at Mountain Lumber Company. In 1968 he became a real estate broker and owner of Frank Auten Real Estate where he developed many houses across Watauga County. He is survived by his wife, Janet Sue Houck Auten, and their little Shih Tzu dogs Buster and Bonnie; brothers Dean Garland Auten (Elaine) of Brunswick, GA, Steven Joseph Auten (Karen) of New Bern, NC, and a sister, Ruth Patricia �Pat� Pittman (Bob), of Brunswick, GA. Additional survivors are nephews Mark, Truett, Lane �Put� Auten, and Noah Auten, and nieces Tracie Pittman Perry and Kamby and Sarah Auten. Also surviving are his in-laws Greta Houck Moretz (Warren) of Mooresville, and their children Emily Moretz Wells (Ben), Derek Moretz (Caroline), and John Scott Moretz. Several great-nieces and great-nephews also survive. The family expresses sincerest appreciation to all personnel in Charlotte, Boone, Mooresville, and Lenoir who provided medical treatment and encouragement to Frank during the past several years. In lieu of food or flowers, memorials may be made to the Watauga Humane Society, P.O. Box 1835 Boone, N.C. 28607 or to St. Jude Children�s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905. A memorial service for Franklin �Frank� Oliver Auten will be held Saturday, November 15, at 2:00 p.m. at Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel in Boone, preceded by visitation beginning at 12:30 p.m. Online condolences may be sent to the Auten family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory, Boone, is serving the Auten family.