A.D. “Jack” Austin, 96, of West Columbia, SC, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side, on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 77 years, Sarah Mae Swearingen Austin. 

His family will remember him as a man that valued hard work, honesty and the value of a man’s word. After he retired from the rock quarry, he went on to establish a successful water well drilling business, being one of South Carolina’s first certified water well drillers, and finally laid his business to rest at over 90 years old. During that time, he was acknowledged for drilling South Carolina’s first artesian water well. In 2010, the South Carolina Ground Water Association honored him with an award for extraordinary contributions to the success of South Carolina’s groundwater industry. He was also a member of the Southeastern Water Well Drilling Association, among many others. People knew him a “the well man” and the granddaddy of teaching a lot of the older established well drillers that are in business today. 

He is survived by his daughters: Shirley Smith, Jeannie LeBouef, Diane Phillips (Tony); grandchildren: Alison, Amanda, Mara (Rick), Dayne and Julie. He also had 14 great grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded by his son, Jack Donald Austin; grandchildren: Jeremy and Jack Jason; and sons-in-law Edwin and Bob. 

Anyone who met him quickly fell in love with his warm heart and beautiful smile. He was loved by everyone that met him. He would rather fix something than replace it was his motto. “If you don’t use it, you will lose it.” 

He will be missed by everyone.