At about twelve o'clock on the night of April 16 all that was mortal of the Rev. V. B. Costello, Synodical Missionary for Tennessee Synod, passed into an inanimate condition, and his noble spirit went back to God. Brother Costello was sick from pneumonia for several weeks, but had not been thought dangerously ill until a few hours before he passed away. He died in the midst of a vigorous manhood, being but forty-eight years of age, as well as in the midst of a career of great usefulness. He leaves a wife, two sons, two daughters, a father, and some brothers and sisters to weep out their grief because of his death. Funeral services were held at his home in Nashville on April 17, conducted by the Rev. J. R. Goodpasture and participated in by a number of the members of Lebanon Presbytery and other friends. His body was laid to rest in the cemetery at Mt. Sharon, in Clarksville Presbytery. May heaven's best blessings rest upon his berefit family and grant to them all needed sympathy and material aid in their struggle with life. We suppose that further obituary notice will be furnished us by Brother Goodpasture.
[ The Cumberland Presbyterian, April 25, 1918, page 2]

We as the Board of Missions of Tennessee Synod, are called on in the sad providence of God to chronicle the demise of our brother and fellow worker, the Rev. V. B. Costello.

Brother Costello was born October 28, 1870, and died April 16, 1918, aged forty-seven years, five months, and eighteen days. He was converted at the age of thirteen and entered the ministry at the age of twenty, joining the Logan Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1890. He was married to Miss Mollie Thompson December 14, 1893. To this union were born four children: Annie, Gordon, Mabel, and Swell.

He preached his first sermon at Gasper River Church, in Kentucky, from the text, I Samuel 20;18: "Thou shalt be missed because thy seat will be empty." And to-day no man in our Presbytery or Synod will be more missed than he.

We, as a Board, offer the following preambles and resolutions as expressive of our feelings on the occasion of the death of our dear brother.

Whereas, our brother, Rev. V. B. Costello, who for the last three and a half years has served faithfully as Synodical Missionary under the direction of this Board, has been called to his reward; and

Whereas, our opportunities for knowing something of the character and work of Brother Costello as a minister and servant of the Church were exceptional; and

Whereas, we feel that the relations we bore to him make it especially proper that we bear our testimony as to his worth as a Christian man and minister; therefore, be it

Resolved: 1. That we regarded Rev. V. B. Costello as a devout Christian, an earnest, fearless, and able minister, and a faithful servant of the Church. We feel that it will be difficult to find another who will as successfully fill the place made vacant by his death.

2. That while we feel thus deeply the loss of Brother Costello as a friend and brother and servant of the Synod as its missionary field man, we bow in humble submission to the will and providence of god and trust Him to provide for the further prosecution of the great work with which he was identified.

3. That we hereby tender our deepest sympathy to his bereaved family and commend them to the protection and blessing of Him whose servant Brother Costello was.

4. That we earnestly appeal to all the congregations of the Synod who have not already taken an offering for the cause of Synodical Mission Work to do so at once and send same to Rev. W. T. Dale, Treasurer of the Board, Woodbine Station, Nashville, Tenn., that the Board may be enabled to pay the balance of $487.56, due by the Synod on Brother Costello's salary.

Remember, brethren, what it means to the widow and children of a preacher, with no home or income, to be sick for seven weeks, and pass away! Think of the expenses that must be met. The Synod pledged the payment of the salary. It has called on all the congregations to take offerings for this cause. If our congregations have this matter presented to them and are given an opportunity to make an offering, we believe that they will meet the demand. We appeal to you not to neglect this important and urgent matter.

5. That these preambles and resolutions be sent to each of the Church papers for publication and that the same be recorded in the minutes of the Board.                                Signed:
                                Rev. J. R. Goodpasture, Pres't.
                                Rev. W. T. Dale; Sec. & Treas,
                                Rev. W. A. Blades,
                                Rev. A. H. Sykes,
                                T. A. Havron.
                                     Synodical Board of Missions.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, May 2, 1918, page 14]