KOST-GEORGE

Excerpts from obituary published in San Diego Union-Tribune on 12/8/2013:

George John Kost, CDR, USN (Ret), passed away peacefully on November 7, 2013.  He was born on January 9, 1917, in Dover, New Hampshire, to Greek immigrant parents.  He spent his childhood in a poor neighborhood in Chicago and often talked fondly about his father taking his sister Effie and him to Greektown for penny candy and an ice cream cone.  His family later moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where George graduated from Lincoln High School in 1935.  There he excelled in wrestling, baseball, and football.  Following a year working to save enough money for college, he began his studies at the University of Illinois where he graduated in 1940.  He married his wife of 48 years, Melba (Mebs), on July 13, 1940, in a civil ceremony in Missouri.  After college George joined the Navy and was assigned to the Navy Armed Guard which provided protection and communications for merchant ships taking supplies to Russia.  George and his gunnery crew were on board the Liberty ship, SS DAVID B. JOHNSON, making another Murmansk Run when they received an announcement of the end of World War II in Europe.  This was the happiest day of his life.  When the war was over, he transferred to the Supply Corps for the remainder of his 22-year Navy career.  As part of the Marshall Plan after the war, George was stationed in Greece, providing supplies and support to the government during their civil war against the communists.  He also served during the Korean and Vietnam wars and retired as a Commander.

Following his retirement from the Navy, George went on to work as the Director of Data Processing at the University of Pennsylvania, TWA, and the Kennecott Copper Company before retiring a second time and moving with Mebs to Bonita, California.  The two of them remained active by volunteering with the Navy Retired Activities Office.  After the death of his wife in December 1988, George increased his civilian and military service activities as both a volunteer and a supporter.  Civilian activities included: the Bonita Business and Professional Association, Sweetwater Valley Civic Association, Hellenic Cultural Society, Highway 125 Alignment Committee, and the Bonita Community Center and Museum Advocacy Group.  He also supported the Olympic Training Center by housing athletes in his home.  Because of his may civic activities he was often called “The Unofficial Mayor of Bonita.”

Among his many military activities were: the San Diego and Sweetwater Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), The Military Officers of World Wars (MOWW), Navy Armed Guard World War II Association, Hammer Club, Veterans Council, Veterans Home in Chula Vista, Veterans Village of San Diego, Navy Retired Activities Office, and the Veterans Memorial Center and Museum.  Because of his many activities, George was named San Diego County Volunteer of the Month in 2005 and was nominated as Veteran of the Year.  He is survived by his daughter and a grandson. His family kindly suggests donation to either the Wounded Warrior Project or the Veterans Village of San Diego.  He has been buried next to his wife at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)