Floy D’Riettha Costello, 90, of Corvallis died peacefully in her sleep on Friday night, April 27, 2012. She was at home surrounded by family when she passed.
Floy was born on a sunny day, Aug. 9, 1921, in Millsap, Texas, to her loving parents, Daniel “Bud” and Mary Bellenger. The family moved to Southern California and settled in Yucaipa, where Floy grew up taking walks in the surrounding orange groves with her three brothers, Joe, Dan and Bob, all of whom have preceded her in death.
Floy was an accomplished tap-dancer in her youth and later became adept at many forms of dancing, a love she kept throughout her life. While attending nearby Redlands High School, she caught the eye of Ray Costello, a tall, outgoing young man who had just moved to town with his mother and three of his sisters from Rossland, British Columbia, Canada. The two fell into what would become a lifelong love affair.
Following Floy’s 1939 high school graduation and two years of attending San Bernadino Valley College, she and Ray were married on Feb. 13, 1942. Ray enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, got his wings, and entered World War II. Their first child, Michelle, was born on July 8, 1943. Thus began a rich phase of Floy’s life as a mother and military wife, when four more children — Patrice, Bill, Kevin and Colleen — were born.
The family traveled the world, living in Japan for three years, Germany for another three, and stateside in Michigan, California and Washington. Ray’s final assignment as the Fighter Operations Officer at Adair Air Force Station in Corvallis marked the end of the military phase for the family.
With their three youngest children now attending schools in Corvallis, the decision was made to buy acreage in the beautiful area surrounding Adair, and build a family home. Floy once again enjoyed having fertile land in which to grow things. She became an active member of the Corvallis Garden Club and cultivated a personal rose garden of more than three dozen varietals.
She was also an exceptional bowler and a stalwart in several leagues for decades, and organized and regularly played with her beloved bridge club until just a few years ago. She was active in PTA and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Family, however, was always first and foremost in her life. For the past 45 years at the property they call Rivendell after the fictional valley in “The Hobbit,” Floy and Ray opened their home to family and friends. The seasonal gatherings were legend, and at the center of the extended clan would be Floy, her bright wit and warm hospitality making everyone feel welcome and loved. Her loss will be keenly felt.
Floy is survived by her husband, Ray; her children, Michelle and husband Al, Patrice and husband Norm, Bill and wife, Wendy, Kevin and wife, Patti, and Colleen and husband Frank; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Corvallis. A reception will follow in the Upper Social Hall.
Gratitude goes out to all the care community, including Benton Hospice Service. Special thanks go to Kay Fenicottera, who gave loving care until her own passing; and sisters Lindsey Begin and Kayla Carter, whose professionalism and genuine love have been a blessing to both Floy and the entire family these last few years.
Arrangements were made with Crown Memorial Center, Salem. Floy will be laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.
Contributor: Christopher Gentry (48869135)
Floy was born on a sunny day, Aug. 9, 1921, in Millsap, Texas, to her loving parents, Daniel “Bud” and Mary Bellenger. The family moved to Southern California and settled in Yucaipa, where Floy grew up taking walks in the surrounding orange groves with her three brothers, Joe, Dan and Bob, all of whom have preceded her in death.
Floy was an accomplished tap-dancer in her youth and later became adept at many forms of dancing, a love she kept throughout her life. While attending nearby Redlands High School, she caught the eye of Ray Costello, a tall, outgoing young man who had just moved to town with his mother and three of his sisters from Rossland, British Columbia, Canada. The two fell into what would become a lifelong love affair.
Following Floy’s 1939 high school graduation and two years of attending San Bernadino Valley College, she and Ray were married on Feb. 13, 1942. Ray enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, got his wings, and entered World War II. Their first child, Michelle, was born on July 8, 1943. Thus began a rich phase of Floy’s life as a mother and military wife, when four more children — Patrice, Bill, Kevin and Colleen — were born.
The family traveled the world, living in Japan for three years, Germany for another three, and stateside in Michigan, California and Washington. Ray’s final assignment as the Fighter Operations Officer at Adair Air Force Station in Corvallis marked the end of the military phase for the family.
With their three youngest children now attending schools in Corvallis, the decision was made to buy acreage in the beautiful area surrounding Adair, and build a family home. Floy once again enjoyed having fertile land in which to grow things. She became an active member of the Corvallis Garden Club and cultivated a personal rose garden of more than three dozen varietals.
She was also an exceptional bowler and a stalwart in several leagues for decades, and organized and regularly played with her beloved bridge club until just a few years ago. She was active in PTA and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Family, however, was always first and foremost in her life. For the past 45 years at the property they call Rivendell after the fictional valley in “The Hobbit,” Floy and Ray opened their home to family and friends. The seasonal gatherings were legend, and at the center of the extended clan would be Floy, her bright wit and warm hospitality making everyone feel welcome and loved. Her loss will be keenly felt.
Floy is survived by her husband, Ray; her children, Michelle and husband Al, Patrice and husband Norm, Bill and wife, Wendy, Kevin and wife, Patti, and Colleen and husband Frank; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Corvallis. A reception will follow in the Upper Social Hall.
Gratitude goes out to all the care community, including Benton Hospice Service. Special thanks go to Kay Fenicottera, who gave loving care until her own passing; and sisters Lindsey Begin and Kayla Carter, whose professionalism and genuine love have been a blessing to both Floy and the entire family these last few years.
Arrangements were made with Crown Memorial Center, Salem. Floy will be laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.
Contributor: Christopher Gentry (48869135)
Floy D’Riettha Costello, 90, of Corvallis died peacefully in her sleep on Friday night, April 27, 2012. She was at home surrounded by family when she passed.
Floy was born on a sunny day, Aug. 9, 1921, in Millsap, Texas, to her loving parents, Daniel “Bud” and Mary Bellenger. The family moved to Southern California and settled in Yucaipa, where Floy grew up taking walks in the surrounding orange groves with her three brothers, Joe, Dan and Bob, all of whom have preceded her in death.
Floy was an accomplished tap-dancer in her youth and later became adept at many forms of dancing, a love she kept throughout her life. While attending nearby Redlands High School, she caught the eye of Ray Costello, a tall, outgoing young man who had just moved to town with his mother and three of his sisters from Rossland, British Columbia, Canada. The two fell into what would become a lifelong love affair.
Following Floy’s 1939 high school graduation and two years of attending San Bernadino Valley College, she and Ray were married on Feb. 13, 1942. Ray enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, got his wings, and entered World War II. Their first child, Michelle, was born on July 8, 1943. Thus began a rich phase of Floy’s life as a mother and military wife, when four more children — Patrice, Bill, Kevin and Colleen — were born.
The family traveled the world, living in Japan for three years, Germany for another three, and stateside in Michigan, California and Washington. Ray’s final assignment as the Fighter Operations Officer at Adair Air Force Station in Corvallis marked the end of the military phase for the family.
With their three youngest children now attending schools in Corvallis, the decision was made to buy acreage in the beautiful area surrounding Adair, and build a family home. Floy once again enjoyed having fertile land in which to grow things. She became an active member of the Corvallis Garden Club and cultivated a personal rose garden of more than three dozen varietals.
She was also an exceptional bowler and a stalwart in several leagues for decades, and organized and regularly played with her beloved bridge club until just a few years ago. She was active in PTA and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Family, however, was always first and foremost in her life. For the past 45 years at the property they call Rivendell after the fictional valley in “The Hobbit,” Floy and Ray opened their home to family and friends. The seasonal gatherings were legend, and at the center of the extended clan would be Floy, her bright wit and warm hospitality making everyone feel welcome and loved. Her loss will be keenly felt.
Floy is survived by her husband, Ray; her children, Michelle and husband Al, Patrice and husband Norm, Bill and wife, Wendy, Kevin and wife, Patti, and Colleen and husband Frank; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Corvallis. A reception will follow in the Upper Social Hall.
Gratitude goes out to all the care community, including Benton Hospice Service. Special thanks go to Kay Fenicottera, who gave loving care until her own passing; and sisters Lindsey Begin and Kayla Carter, whose professionalism and genuine love have been a blessing to both Floy and the entire family these last few years.
Arrangements were made with Crown Memorial Center, Salem. Floy will be laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.
Contributor: Christopher Gentry (48869135)
Floy was born on a sunny day, Aug. 9, 1921, in Millsap, Texas, to her loving parents, Daniel “Bud” and Mary Bellenger. The family moved to Southern California and settled in Yucaipa, where Floy grew up taking walks in the surrounding orange groves with her three brothers, Joe, Dan and Bob, all of whom have preceded her in death.
Floy was an accomplished tap-dancer in her youth and later became adept at many forms of dancing, a love she kept throughout her life. While attending nearby Redlands High School, she caught the eye of Ray Costello, a tall, outgoing young man who had just moved to town with his mother and three of his sisters from Rossland, British Columbia, Canada. The two fell into what would become a lifelong love affair.
Following Floy’s 1939 high school graduation and two years of attending San Bernadino Valley College, she and Ray were married on Feb. 13, 1942. Ray enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, got his wings, and entered World War II. Their first child, Michelle, was born on July 8, 1943. Thus began a rich phase of Floy’s life as a mother and military wife, when four more children — Patrice, Bill, Kevin and Colleen — were born.
The family traveled the world, living in Japan for three years, Germany for another three, and stateside in Michigan, California and Washington. Ray’s final assignment as the Fighter Operations Officer at Adair Air Force Station in Corvallis marked the end of the military phase for the family.
With their three youngest children now attending schools in Corvallis, the decision was made to buy acreage in the beautiful area surrounding Adair, and build a family home. Floy once again enjoyed having fertile land in which to grow things. She became an active member of the Corvallis Garden Club and cultivated a personal rose garden of more than three dozen varietals.
She was also an exceptional bowler and a stalwart in several leagues for decades, and organized and regularly played with her beloved bridge club until just a few years ago. She was active in PTA and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Family, however, was always first and foremost in her life. For the past 45 years at the property they call Rivendell after the fictional valley in “The Hobbit,” Floy and Ray opened their home to family and friends. The seasonal gatherings were legend, and at the center of the extended clan would be Floy, her bright wit and warm hospitality making everyone feel welcome and loved. Her loss will be keenly felt.
Floy is survived by her husband, Ray; her children, Michelle and husband Al, Patrice and husband Norm, Bill and wife, Wendy, Kevin and wife, Patti, and Colleen and husband Frank; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Corvallis. A reception will follow in the Upper Social Hall.
Gratitude goes out to all the care community, including Benton Hospice Service. Special thanks go to Kay Fenicottera, who gave loving care until her own passing; and sisters Lindsey Begin and Kayla Carter, whose professionalism and genuine love have been a blessing to both Floy and the entire family these last few years.
Arrangements were made with Crown Memorial Center, Salem. Floy will be laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.
Contributor: Christopher Gentry (48869135)
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