Obituary of Phyllis Coston

Dr. Phyllis Kohl Coston, age 87, of Buckhannon, WV, died Sunday, March 25, 2018 at Florida Hospital East in Orlando, FL.  She was born February 7, 1931 in Pittsburgh, PA, a daughter of Howard and Mary Kann Kohl.  On June 19, 1954 she married Herbert Coston, who survives.  Also surviving are their son, Robert Coston and daughter Susie Coston and  many extended family members.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister, Eileen Oliver. Dr. Coston received her Bachelor’s degree from West Virginia Wesleyan, her MA degree from Garrett Seminary and Northwestern University, and the Doctor of Humane Letters from Wesleyan.  She was a professor of Education and Christian Education at Wesleyan for 46 years, after teaching public school in Illinois for 8 years. She established the Learning Center at Wesleyan in 1955, and was its Director until 1998.  In the Center she established a special program for Dyslexics, and became a pioneer in the field of higher education for learning disabled students.  She received national recognition and many honors for her leadership in this field.  Phyllis was an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church, and held leadership positions in the West Virginia Annual Conference of the church for 20 years.  She remained an active member of First United Methodist Church in Buckhannon until her death. Friends will be received Monday, April 2 at the First United Methodist Church from 11 AM to 2 PM; the funeral service will be at 2 PM, with the Rev. Steve Meadows officiating.  Burial will follow in the Buckhannon Memorial Park in Buckhannon.  Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.