George Arthur Costan

George A. Costan

George Arthur Costan, founder of Southern Air, Inc., and long-time civic leader, died following a massive stroke on Sunday, September 23. He was 97 years young. He was predeceased by his wife Gladys; a brother Arthur; and three sisters, Helen Costan, Marie Clark, and Olga Griffith. He is survived by sisters Angeline Coyle and Kalypso Furniss as well as his five children and their families. They are: Arthur Costan (Ellen) his son Marshall, her daughter Lara Mason, and Lara's son Josh; James Costan (Margaret) and son Jonathan; Ann Marie Vinson and her children Molly and Tyler (Brittney); Alice Ferguson, known as "Boo"; Georgellen (Georgie) Easter (Eldon) and her children Rick Whitfield and Melissa Lumaco(Tyler) and their daughter Logan. Nieces and nephews include Whit Clark, Carolyn Clark Doyle, Butch Furniss, Betty Furniss Maddox and Tamsin Griffith Taylor.

George--or "Pappy," as family and many friends knew him--was born and raised in Lynchburg. His father died during the flu epidemic of the 1920s, making him the "man of the family" at age 7 and shaping his sense of responsibility for years to come. He and his siblings helped their mother run a grocery store, and he took on myriad jobs to help pay for his college education. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Tech) in 1936 with a degree in mechanical engineering. That same year he married his sweetheart, Gladys Green, and they shared nearly 70 years together prior to her death in 2006. Drafted into the Army for World War II, George served in the North Africa, Sicily, and Italian campaigns as a supply captain in an anti-aircraft battery. After the war he went to work for the Holland Furnace Company as branch manager in Roanoke and later, Asheville, North Carolina. After learning of a job opportunity back home, he returned to Lynchburg in 1948 to work for Southern Air Conditioning Company, and in 1951, bought out the owner. Under his leadership, this firm, now Southern Air, Inc., would grow from a small office on Fifth Street to one of the largest HVAC firms in the state.

During the 1960s, when he was in his 40s, George took up the game of golf and became an enthusiast for the sport. In 1963 he opened Colonial Hills Golf Club so that people of average means would have an affordable and

accessible venue to play. It was the first golf club in the area to open its membership to minorities.

When he was in his 80s and tutoring disadvantaged children at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, he saw the need for a school that could raise entire families out of poverty through education for pre-school children and better employment opportunities for their parents. In 2003, with the help of the late Chuck Church and former Mayor Ed Barksdale, he founded College Hill Neighborhood School.

Throughout his life George was a man of compassionate action. He was involved in many civic organizations and held various offices at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. In 2004 he was the recipient of the Lynchburg Humanitarian Award. He also had a lifelong love for his alma mater, Virginia Tech, and was an active fundraiser and a member of the Board of Governors for a number of years. In 1991 he received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

In addition to being a devoted husband and father, George constantly exhibited a love for people in general and "underdogs" in particular. For him, "love" was always an active verb. Friendliness and concern for others were hallmarks of his character.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 605 Clay Street on Friday, September 28, at 3:30 p.m., with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that people consider a memorial gift to Lynchburg Community Trust for the George and Gladys Costan Scholarship Fund (101 Paulette Circle, 24502); St. Paul's Episcopal Church (605 Clay Street, 24504), or a charity of their choice. Condolences may be sent to the family c/o Georgie Easter, 3210 Downing Drive 24503, or to Tharp Funeral Home (office@tharpfuneralhome.com).