Doris C. Costello

Doris Clevenger Costello, 92, of Halltown, West Virginia, passed away Sunday, March 13, 2022, at Jefferson Medical Center in Ranson, WV.

Doris was born on Dec. 10, 1929, the daughter of Jessie and Edwin Clevenger of Halltown. She was an avid reader throughout her life, and was proud of her hard work as a scholar. She graduated as the Valedictorian of her class at Harpers Ferry High School in 1947. Doris was grateful to immediately continue her education at Shepherd College, an opportunity she knew was not afforded to most women at that time. By 1951, she had graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education. She went on to complete additional teaching certification hours at George Washington University, and received her lifetime teaching certificate in West Virginia in 1980.

Doris started teaching at Brunswick High School in September of 1951, and taught there until June of 1959. During her time there, she taught core curriculum for all eighth-grade students, and biology, anatomy, and physiology for tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students. Doris always had fond memories of her time in Brunswick and continued to receive letters from her students through the final weeks of her life. She gave birth to her only child, Mary Lane Edge (nee Costello), in December of 1959, and considered ending her teaching career at that time. In 1962, she began what was intended to be a long-term substitute position at Harpers Ferry High School, and taught there until her retirement 26 years later, in June of 1988. During her time there, she taught seventh-grade life science, ninth-grade physical science, and tenth-grade biology. She was designated as Head Teacher from 1967 until her retirement, and served as principal whenever needed during that time. Over all, her teaching career lasted 34 years, and remained her proudest achievement to the end of her life.

Doris remained active following her retirement, including her dedicated membership to Delta Kappa Gamma, an International Society of Women Educators. She was invited to join in 1982, and considered many women from this organization to be her closest friends until the day she died. She served with the American Red Cross as Blood Services Coordinator for Jefferson County from 1989 until the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, and was recognized by the American Red Cross in 2014, for 25 years of dedicated volunteer service. She was a member of the Presbyterian Women’s organization for Halltown Presbyterian Church, and served as leadership chairman for the Women of the Church of the Shenandoah Presbytery. She served on the task force for the consolidation of the Winchester and Lexington Presbyteries, on behalf of PCUSA, which resulted in the formation of the Shenandoah Presbytery. This is now recognized as the largest presbytery, based on membership, in the United States. She served as a Deacon and Elder at Halltown Presbyterian Church for 51 years, and volunteered as the pianist and organist there from their organization in 1960 until 2020. Doris helped to form the Harpers Ferry Alumni Association, and was honored as their Distinguished Member in 2017.

Doris is survived by one sister, Sherry Symons; brother-in-law, Charles Symons; son-in-law, Roger Edge, and granddaughters, Erin and Kari Edge.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Myrna Bowers; nephew Bruce Bowers, and her loving husband of 52 years, Alexander “Alec” Costello. She lost her only child, Mary Lane Edge, in 2020, after a three-year battle with brain cancer. A loss from which Doris never fully recovered.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, 256 Halltown Road, Harpers Ferry, WV. This was followed directly by the graveside service at Edge Hill Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed at www.eackles-spencerfuneraslhome.com.