Helen Louise Austin, 80, of Springfield died Friday, Nov. 3, 2006, at St. John's Hospice. 

She was born Sept. 10, 1926, in Springfield, the daughter of Lewis and Rose Grey Westerman. She married Morris Austin; they later divorced. 

Mrs. Austin graduated from Feitshans High School. She played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1943 and 1944 for the Kenosha Comets and Rockford Peaches. She retired from the Hobbs Division of Stewart Warner in 1989 after 20 years, where she helped organize the United Auto Workers. She, with partner Louise Taplin, operated a Watkins business at White Oaks Mall for 16 years. 

Cremation was accorded by Springfield Crematory. Graveside services: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oak Hill Cemetery, the Rev. Helen Harvey officiating.