Charles E. Costner

It is with great sorrow that the Costner Family shares the passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather Charles E. Costner. Charles "Charlie" Costner, 85, of Anaheim, California passed away on February 25th, 2022. Charlie was born to Oscar Haywood Costner and Belma Estell Whitney in Harrisburg, Arkansas. Charlie is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lois Costner, their two children, Eric (Shirley) and Laura (Eymeric), and his grandchildren Nick, Nathan, and Sophie. Charles was preceded in death by his father, mother, and six siblings. Born on January 12th, 1937, Charles started life at the tail end of the Great Depression growing up during the start of WWII. The circumstances of his upbringing led him to adopt prudent, respectful, loyal, self-disciplined, and hardworking behaviors his whole life. He exuded all of these characteristics, while also enjoying his fair share of humor, friendship, and mentoring to all that shared life with him. Charlie's life story could be likened to an inspiring American novel. His entire life and all of his experiences are very much intertwined in the fabric of this nation's history. In 1947, he was 10 years old when he entered the workforce at Lamb's Grocery Store, sacking loose potatoes and tying the sacks. His eldest sister, Beatrice "Bee" Nolan, moved him and his mother to Detroit when he was just 14 years old. There, his hard work ethic secured him his second job working in a chrome shop in Detroit. After 5 years in Detroit, he had saved up enough money for his mother and him to leave the slush and cold of Michigan and he moved to sunny and warm California. In 1955, he arrived in California and secured a construction job framing and drywalling new homes in the booming housing market of Southern California. During this time, he met the love of his life, Lois Costner. They were married within two years of meeting, and it was always evident that they would love each other forever. Their devotion and commitment to each other are an inspirational love story to many. After meeting Lois, he secured a job in a paper mill located in Los Angeles, California. This would become his lifelong career where his hard work, constant learning, and fair treatment of all people would fuel his success in supervision and management positions. While at the paper mill, he was drafted into the Army in December of 1960. He spent most of his military service as an SP4 in Communications and was stationed at an army base near Nuremberg, Germany. After leaving the Army he completed almost 40 years in the pulp and paper industry. Charlie's passion was always staying busy. His mechanical aptitude would keep him busy building, fixing, and playing with many vehicles and the beautiful landscape he enjoyed building and maintaining over his lifetime. He enjoyed long family summer vacations, active participation in his children's sporting and extracurricular endeavors, traveling with his wife, and mentoring and spoiling his grandchildren. All who knew Charlie will remember his depth of knowledge, respectful character, and warm hospitality. For these reasons and more, he will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.