James P. Costa

WWlI Veteran of Iwo Jima –

Concord – James P. Costa, 86, of Concord, died Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Concord Hospital. He was born in Canterbury on March 3, 1925 a son of Peter and Mary (Vasillian) Costa.

Jim attended schools in Canterbury and Penacook. He worked for Concord Electric for 36 years, starting as a meter reader then studying and becoming a master electrician retiring as line supervisor in 1983.

An Army veteran of WWII, he was attached as a scout to the Marines searching the caves for snipers after the Japanese retreated. He earned a Bronze Star & Purple Heart during the landing at Iwo Jima. His awards included two combat action stars. Jim did combat service on Iwo Jima and Emeru Island along with other war zones of the Pacific. He was a member of the American Legion, The Elks and The Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving as past commander.

He was married to Mary Young and they had two children Carla and Marcus. Jim later married Barbara (Holt -Bourgeois) and they lived in Concord for 28 years. They enjoyed trips to Mohegan Sun and Las Vegas with friends. Jim also enjoyed working in his garden.

Mr. Costa was predeceased by 4 brothers, Charles, Alexander “AJ”, and Aristotle '"Ted”, and Paul “Apre”; 6 sisters Evelyn (Costa) Woodward, Olga Costa, Sophia (Costa Baker - Rayno) Wic", Cleopatra "Cleo” Costa and Georgia (Costa) Garcia and Christina Payne. He was also predeceased by a niece Sharon Hough.

Survivors include his daughter, Carla Daniels of Tucson AZ; his son Marcus Costa of Concord; grandsons James '"Jamie” Daniels of Tucson AZ and Jeremy Daniels of Benson AZ; granddaughter Elizabeth Bourgeois of Franklin NH; great-grandson Damien Daniels of Benson AZ; a great-granddaughter Gabrielle Bourgeois of Franklin; stepdaughters Wanda Bourgeois of Franklin. Mary (Bourgeois-Wheeler) Cayer and her husband, Thomas of Sanbornton NH; Paula (Bourgeois) Petrakos and her husband Peter of Hudson NH; his sister, Ceil (Costa-Hough) Frost of Rockport TX; a brother Mike and his wife Laura Costa of Melbourne FL and Hampton NH; a niece Diane Eaton of Barrington, RI and many nieces, nephews & cousins.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 11 at Bennett Funeral Home, 209 North Main Street, Concord. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at 12 Noon at New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756.

The Bennett Funeral Home of Concord is in charge of the arrangements. Messages of condolences may be offered at www.bennettfuneral.com.