Austin Gaver

Mr. Austin “Les” Gaver, 86, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, died peacefully in his sleep at the Frederick Memorial Hospital early Friday morning, April 27, 2012, after a brief struggle with pneumonia. He was the husband of the late Edna Mae Mercer Gaver.

Mr. Gaver was born in Frederick on June 29, 1925. He grew up in Middletown and Frederick with his twin brother Howard and sister Winifred. Austin attended Frederick High School and graduated in the class of 1943. During his high school summers, Austin worked in the movie theater on Patrick Street (now the Weinberg Center), and played drums in a band with his schoolmates. Shortly after graduation, he joined the USAAF hoping to become a P-51 Mustang pilot. The Air Force had other plans however, and he was soon transferred to the left waist gunner position on a B-24 Liberator in the 8 ^th Air Force’s 489 ^th Bomber Group. Austin flew 26 combat missions over occupied Europe, and numerous humanitarian flights into Paris after the war to help feed the starving populace. Although he rarely spoke of his experiences in World War II, he sometimes talked of the mission where the bail-out order was almost given because of extensive flak damage to the airplane, or about the strange feeling of seeing the first German Me-262 jets flying at 600 mph without propellers, or of his buddy, the crew navigator who stayed for one extra mission and was killed in action.

After the war, Austin worked numerous jobs ranging from airplane inspector at Fairchild to REA photographer. In 1950 he married Edna Mae Mercer. They were married for 52 wonderful years until she passed away in 2002.

In 1960, Austin landed a job at NASA’s fledgling Audio/Visual department. As the space agency grew, he found himself with increasing responsibility as head of the department. Austin fought to get cameras on the Apollo 11 lunar module, and was the first person to view and edit mission film for public release. He loved his job at NASA and his co-workers in the agency, often saying that he couldn’t come up with a more enjoyable job if he tried.

Austin enjoyed spending time with his family, loved music, and appreciated nature, frequently buying large bags of peanuts and sunflower seeds for the birds and squirrels in his backyard. His hobbies included flying, tennis, art and riding his motorcycle.

In recent years, he often sat in his sunroom with his cat Morris either listening to big band music, reading his Bible, or hearing the preaching of Charles Stanley and Dr. David Jeremiah on the radio. He looked forward to going out to lunch with his son Jay, and visiting with grandsons Austin and Justin. He also enjoyed attending Sunday services at Calvary United Methodist church in Frederick where his faith in Christ grew deeper. He loved God, and was ready to go home to the Lord, and his wife Edna.

Austin is survived by family who loved him dearly, including his son Jay, his daughter-in-law MaryAnn, his twin grandsons Austin and Justin, his sister-in-law Teresa Gaver, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son Kim Gaver, his twin brother Howard Gaver, his sister Winifred Kline and his cousin Stanley V. Gaver.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, May 3, at Calvary United Methodist Church, 131 W. Second Street, Frederick with Rev. Kenneth R. Dunnigan and Rev. Harry C. Cole officiating.

Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to the Calvary United Methodist Church at the above address.