Francis "Frank" T. Costello, 94, of Coeur d'Alene, passed away May 16, 2011. Born Aug. 29, 1916, in Portland, Ore., the youngest son of John Fulton Costello and Mary Elizabeth (Scales) Costello, he and his six siblings were raised in Northport and Spokane.

He was in his teens during the "Great Depression," so following 1935 graduation from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane he joined the 3 C's (Civilian Conservation Corps) stationed at Fort George Wright in Spokane. He met "Dolly" Ruth Moe of Coeur d'Alene and married on his 21st birthday, Aug. 29, 1937.

During the war years he held Civil Service positions at Geiger Field with the Washington State Selective Service, Spokane Air Service Command and later transferred to the War Department Deferment Board in Mobile, Ala.

With his Irish charm and charismatic nature, Frank spent the remainder of his life in sales. He traveled with the Firestone Corporation for several years with the family residing in Wenatchee and Spokane. He left "the road" and managed the Osburn Supply in Kellogg. Settling in Coeur d'Alene in 1958, he managed Cd'A TBA for Reid Brother's Texaco and later operated Frank's Travel Mart Texaco Service Station.

After "retiring" Frank was a courier for US Bank Coeur d'Alene and he and Dolly ran "Dolly's Crying Towel," the coffee shop at the Coeur d'Alene Public Golf Course where both were avid golfers. Never seeing himself as "old," Frank continued to work well into his '80s with his last employment at the Idaho State Liquor Store, jokingly referred to as the "Candy Store."

Frank was active in the Coeur d'Alene community participating in the Coeur d'Alene Community Theater, singing in St. Luke's Episcopal Choir and the Lake City Harmonizers. He served on the Jewett House Advisory Board for many years and was a life/50-year member of the Masonic Lodge.

To family and those close to him, he modeled and encouraged a strong work ethic, honesty, loyalty, service to others and pride of accomplishment in a job well done. But Frank is most remembered for his Irish wit and wisdom, and his beautiful Irish tenor voice bursting into spontaneous song.

Frank was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dolly, in April 2007, a few months shy of their 70th wedding anniversary.

He is survived by a son, Richard Costello of Seattle; a son and daughter-in-law, Norman and Beverly Costello of Charleston, S.C.; a daughter, Kathleen Blanford of Spokane; 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 26, 2011, at Forest Cemetery, Coeur d'Alene, with Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel, in care of the arrangements.

The family prefers memorials to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210.

Please visit Frank's memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.