Harold Prestwood Coston

Mr. Harold Prestwood Coston of Hendersonville died at his home on April 9. He was 88. Mr. Coston was born on August 30, 1926 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Fred E. and Lula Prestwood Coston. He was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Vivian Johnson Coston, and sisters Melba Coston, Onita Robison, and Norma Styers. Mr. Coston is survived by a brother Rex Coston of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, three daughters, Carolyn Leap of Knoxville, Tennessee, Deborah Lewis of Hendersonville, Pamela Klein of Hendersonville, and two sons-in-law, Dr. Terry Leap of Knoxville, Tennessee and Harry Lewis of Hendersonville. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Catherine Leap of Schaumburg, Illinois, Christopher Leap of Chicago, Illinois, Diana Klein, Ryan Klein, and David Klein, all of Hendersonville, and one great grandson, Benjamin Leap, of Schaumburg, Illinois. He also enjoyed "favorite uncle" status among his many nieces and nephews. Mr. Coston earned his B.S. degree from Wake Forest College in 1946 and a master's degree in public health from The Johns Hopkins University in 1952. He was a dedicated health care professional and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Administrators. Mr. Coston served as administrator of hospitals in Cambridge, Maryland and Hannibal, Missouri. In 1966 he accepted a joint appointment as associate professor in the Schools of Medicine and Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill. Mr. Coston later became the director of the North Carolina Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill. With the encouragement and support of future U.S. president, George H. W. Bush, Mr. Coston was appointed in 1972 as administrator of the Lubbock County (Texas) Hospital District. In this capacity, he was responsible for the design and construction of the newly-funded Texas Tech Medical School Hospital. Mr. Coston returned to North Carolina in 1982, accepting the position of associate administrator of Pardee Memorial Hospital in Hendersonville. He completed his career as director of the Broughton Hospital in Morganton, North Carolina and, during the late 1980s and early 1990s, taught courses at Clemson University. Mr. Coston was active in a variety of civic organizations, including Rotary International and the YMCA. He was also a prominent member of several professional health care associations and a sought-after consultant in health care. Anyone who knew Mr. Coston witnessed his deep devotion to his family, his community, and the Fruitland United Methodist Church, which was founded by his grandparents. He was a tireless worker who always had time to help neighbors and friends. But, more than anything else, he enjoyed spending time with his daughters, grandchildren and other family members. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, April 13th, at Fruitland United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Fruitland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the church at 66 South Mills Gap Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.