John O. Costine
John O. Costine was born October 16, 1924 to John E. Costine and Jesse Oliver Costine in St. Clairsville, Ohio. John died peacefully at home surrounded by family on March 6, 2025. John, an icon of St. Clairsville, Ohio, lived his entire 100 years in St. Clairsville, in fact, in three houses on South Marietta Street nearly next door to one another. John was that impeccably dressed man who townspeople saw in his seasonally appropriate fedora making his daily trek to the courthouse where he transacted legal business for the myriad of clients that he served during his 73 years as an attorney in St. Clairsville. At the time of his death John was the oldest practicing attorney in the state of Ohio.
John attended Bethany College where at the beginning of World War II he entered the V-12 Navy College Training Program. His training to become an officer took him to the University of Notre Dame, Yale University and The Citadel Military Academy.
John was a World War II veteran having served as an ensign in the United States Navy in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre aboard the USS Barnwell as a celestial navigator. The fondness he learned while at sea fostered a lifetime love of sailboats and sailing. John taught his wife of 69 years the love of sailing even though she did not swim and had fear of water.
After the war John enrolled in the law program at Ohio Northern University where he received his Juris Doctor degree. Upon graduation he came back to St. Clairsville to practice law with his father John E. In 1950. Later he was joined in this practice by his sons, J. Mark and Eric.
John and Phyllis were the perfect couple and rarely did anything without the other. Both were faithful members of Thoburn United Methodist Church where John was baptized. Both were faithful members of the church choir. John taught sunday school there for many years.
John served as the Treasurer of the Belmont County Fair Board, member of St. Clairsville-Richland Township School Board, board member of the Bridgeport Savings and Loan. John was also a member of the St. Clairsville Rotary Club for 70 years.
John was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Phyllis; and granddaughter, Hannah; a brother, Robert E. (Anna D.) Costine; and a sister, Dorothy (Bob) Stanek.
John is survived by his children J. Mark Costine (Brenda); Melanie Moon (Craig) and Eric Costine (Denise); a brother, Tom (Connie) Costine; and by five grandchildren, four great grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and five step-great grandchildren and three step great great grandchildren.
Family and friends will be received at the Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville, Ohio, on Monday, March 10, 2025, from 3 to 6 p.m., where visitation will be held again on Tuesday from 12 p.m. until time of service at 2 p.m. The burial will follow in Union Cemetery, St. Clairsville, Ohio. Full Military Honors will be conducted by the Belmont County Veterans Association on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to The St. Clairsville Rotary Club Foundation, P. O. Box 531, St. Clairsville, Ohio. 43950.John O. Costine was born October 16, 1924 to John E. Costine and Jesse Oliver Costine in St. Clairsville, Ohio. John died peacefully at home surrounded by family on March 6, 2025. John, an icon of St. Clairsville, Ohio, lived his entire 100 years in St. Clairsville, in fact, in three houses on South Marietta Street nearly next door to one another. John was that impeccably dressed man who townspeople saw in his seasonally appropriate fedora making his daily trek to the courthouse where he transacted legal business for the myriad of clients that he served during his 73 years as an attorney in St. Clairsville. At the time of his death John was the oldest practicing attorney in the state of Ohio.
