GENE DANIEL COSTILL – Obituary
Gene Daniel Costill on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Age 95. Husband of 51 years to the love of his life, Shirley Marie (nee Brown) Costill. Father of Karen Watson (Ken) and the late Keith A. Costill. Son of late Harold Elwood and Elizabeth (nee Kendall) Costill. Brother of the late Robert S. Costill, Harold K. (Brud) Costill, Allan Costill, and Joan Burke. Loving grandfather of Danielle (Tom) Walker, Kenneth (Laura) Rothwein Jr., Michael Rothwein, Kristine Costill, Jennifer Costill, Jason (Laura) Watson, and Kallie (Michael) Cartwright. Beloved PopPop Geno to great-grandkids Cadie and Tommy Walker; Nicholas Rothwein; Sofia, Dexter, and Addison Cartwright; and Michael and Matthew Watson.
Born and raised in Clayton where he was a lifelong resident, Gene was a 1943 graduate of Clayton High School where he is a member of The Athletic Hall of Fame for his talent on the football field. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the US Coast Guard and proudly served on the USS Alexandria escorting convoys in the North Atlantic during World War II until his discharge in May of 1946.
Gene attended Glassboro State College for 2 years in their Engineering Program and worked for E.I. DuPont de Nemours Repauno Plant in Gibbstown for 39 years, never taking a sick day from work. He worked for Envirotech of New Jersey for 6 years as a Safety Supervisor where he oversaw the dismantlement of the Repauno Plant.
Gene dedicated his life to public service and to the Borough of Clayton. He spent two terms on Borough Council beginning in 1958 followed by 5 terms as Mayor and then as Gloucester County Freeholder from 1977-1980. Gene served as an Advisor to the GC Parks and Recreation Committee, advisor to the Gloucester County Institute of Technology, and 15 years on the Gloucester County College Board of Trustees. He served on the Gloucester County Democrat Executive Committee and worked as an Election Board poll worker and Judge since 1957.
Gene was a charter member and past Commander of the Harold K. Costill VFW Post 1801 of Clayton, a member of the Homer L. Ewan American Legion Post 179 of Clayton, a member of the Glassboro VFW Post 679, and a member of the Coast Guard Combat Veterans’ Association. He was an active member of the Clayton Kiwanis Club, a long-time and currently active member of the Clayton Elks Lodge, and was a Mason with the Pitman Masonic Temple, Lodge #197 recently earning his 50-year pin. Gene volunteered with the Clayton Ambulance Corps for 3 years where he was a founding member, volunteered as a CPR Instructor for The American Red Cross for 10 years, and volunteered with the AARP Senior Tax Preparation Service for 12 years.
Gene was a charter and active member of The Clayton HS Reunion Committee, served as Vice-Chair of The Heritage Glass Museum Board, was a member of the Cedar Green Cemetery Association, served as Chairman of the Clayton Borough Veterans Committee, organized the Clayton Memorial Day Parade for 53 years, and served as a member of Clayton’s Citizens Dispute Resolution Committee. The Mayor and Borough Council of Clayton honored him in 2016 proclaiming his 90th birthday as Gene Costill Day in the Borough to thank him for his many years of service to his hometown.
Gene’s most satisfying accomplishment was spearheading his family’s campaign to identify and return the remains of his brother, Harold K. “Brud” Costill, who was lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He successfully brought Brud home on September 14, 2019.
Gene enjoyed fishing, boating, and relaxing on Silver Lake during his 46 years as part of The Silver Lake Association. His passion was the 32 years he worked for the Philadelphia Phillies Give-Away staff as part of the South Jersey Baseball Oldtimers Association. He enjoyed working as the First Base Gate Staff Supervisor until COVID shut down the season last March.
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the BARCLAY FUNERAL HOME, 208 Maple Street, Clayton, NJ 08312. Funeral Service on Wednesday at 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Interment at Cedar Green Cemetery, Clayton. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Gene to the Clayton Veterans Committee Scholarship Fund, 125 N. Delsea Drive, Clayton, NJ 08312. Sign the guestbook at BarclayFuneralHome.net.