George Kostenbauder

A Meadville man who helped set up operations at the local American Viscose Division of FMC Corp. plant in 1929 and worked there for 26 years died at Spencer Hospital yesterday.

George Henry Kostenbauder, 80, died Wednesday, October 28, 1970, after an illness of several months.  He joined Viscose in 1921 and was sent to England in 1929 to learn the acetate process.  Mr. Kostenbauder came to Meadville later that year as head of acetate manufacturing and mixing and storage department at the plant.  He retired in 1955.

Mr. Kostenbauder was born October 22, 1890, at Lebanon, a son of Henry Haines and Annie Mary Jones Kostenbauder.  He married the former Nellie M. Shafer in June 1942.

He was graduated from Lewistown High School in 1909 and from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science with the degree of doctor of pharmacy in 1914.  In the same year, he passed the PA State Board of Pharmacy examination to practice pharmacy and practiced in drug stores in Lewistown, Philadelphia and York.

A member of Meadville First Baptist Church, Mr. Kostenbauder was a veteran of World War I.  He started as a chemist in the laboratory at a Viscose plant in 1921, and organized and was the first president of the local Viscose Foreman's Club.

He was very active in a number of professional and social organizations.

Surviving in addition to his wife are one brother, Charles Kostenbauder of Altoona and two nephews, Charles and John K. Kostenbauder.

Services were held at Waid Funeral Home.

Interment was in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.