Costain, John Kendall

Dr. John Kendall Costain passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2015. Dr. Costain was born in Boston, Mass., on November 18, 1929, to Ina Mae Weaver Costain and John Thomas Costain.

He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Boston University, and worked for Mobile in Venezuela for three years. He then went on to receive his PhD from the University of Utah. Dr. Costain had a long and distinguished career as a Professor of Geophysics at Virginia Tech, retiring after 29 years in 1996. He continued his research and continued to write papers until his death. Dr. Costain is known worldwide as the author of the theory of Hydroseismicity, and his work in Reflection Seismology and Geothermal Energy. He has a chair endowed in his name at Virginia Tech. Dr. Costain was an inspiration to his students, mentoring many of them on to brilliant careers of their own.

Dr. Costain married Rose Wilkinson Costain on Thanksgiving day in 1956. She preceded him in death, passing on on December 4, 2008. He was also predeceased by his sisters, Lois Costain Fall and Jean Costain.

He is survived by his daughter, Caroline Rose Muller; his sons, John Gordon Costain, and James Earl Costain; his grandchildren, Christian John Muller, James Erik Muller, Nash Thomas Costain, and Erin Rose Costain; his nephews and niece, Kevin Robert Fall, Brian Lewis Fall, and Janet Lynn Fall and their families.

John loved sailing, and enjoyed Sunday dinners with friends and family. He inherited a love of classical music from his father. He and his friends and family enjoyed many picnics at the Cascades and White Rocks.

A Memorial Service will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at McCoy Funeral Home followed by informal gathering. The family would prefer donations to the Blacksburg Rescue Squad, 200 Progress Street, NE, Blacksburg, VA 24060, and flowers should be sent to the McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.