Costner Funeral Home

Veteran services at Costner Funeral Home

Costner Funeral Home serves veteran families in Gastonia, NC with military funeral planning. In their own words: "Costner Funeral Home provides comprehensive veteran services, acknowledging the devotion of military members to the nation. They assist families with completing applications for all veteran benefits, including Military Honors, Presidential Memorial Certificates, and veteran memorial markers or headstones. The funeral home also coordinates any existing paid pre-plan funding benefits that may cover expenses not deemed eligible by the Veterans Administration. They help coordinate necessary documentation to request honors and work with national or state veterans' cemeteries. Services for veterans include professional services of a Funeral Director and support staff, transfer of the deceased, professional care, cremation services, use of mortuary facilities for visitation or gathering, funeral or memorial ceremonies, use of automotive equipment, and online interactive memorial websites. Eligibility for these services generally requires the veteran to have been honorably discharged, including active duty members, Selected Reserve members, and former members discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or due to a service-incurred disability." On-site amenities include chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $4,145 for basic burial and $1,595 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include burial preparation, direct burial, direct cremation, memorial services, and veteran services. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

On-site facilities of note include chapel. These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.

Published pricing at Costner Funeral Home: direct cremation from $1,595. That places direct cremation roughly 14% below the North Carolina median ($1,850). Veterans who served on active duty for at least 24 months may qualify for VA burial allowance to offset funeral costs — this home accepts assignment of those benefits where eligible.

The nearest VA national cemetery is Salisbury National Cemetery Annex in NC, approximately 51 miles from Costner Funeral Home. Costner Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

North Carolina has approximately 845 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Costner Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Costner Funeral Home cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $1,595. Eligible veterans can offset these costs with a VA burial allowance, and burial in a VA national cemetery is provided at no charge.

Where is Costner Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Costner Funeral Home is located at 2425 West Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia, NC. You can reach the home at (704) 864-6787. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Costner Funeral Home offer veteran families?

Costner Funeral Home provides traditional funeral services, burial preparation, visitation, funeral ceremony, transportation services, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Costner Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Costner Funeral Home provides comprehensive veteran services, acknowledging the devotion of military members to the nation. They assist families with completing applications for all veteran benefits, including Military Honors, Presidential Memorial Certificates, and veteran memorial markers or headstones. The funeral home also coordinates any existing paid pre-plan funding benefits that may cover expenses not deemed eligible by the Veterans Administration. They help coordinate necessary documentation to request honors and work with national or state veterans' cemeteries. Services for veterans include professional services of a Funeral Director and support staff, transfer of the deceased, professional care, cremation services, use of mortuary facilities for visitation or gathering, funeral or memorial ceremonies, use of automotive equipment, and online interactive memorial websites. Eligibility for these services generally requires the veteran to have been honorably discharged, including active duty members, Selected Reserve members, and former members discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or due to a service-incurred disability.

What sets Costner Funeral Home apart

Fourth-generation family-owned and operated business since 1939, with direct family involvement in daily operations.
Deep historical ties and dedicated service to Gastonia's predominantly Black Highland community, with plans to build a new facility on Highland Street to return to the community's fringe.
Founder Charles W. Costner, Sr.'s unique background as a building contractor who crafted burial caskets before establishing the funeral home.
Specialized services for veterans, including assistance with military honors, benefits applications, and coordination with veterans' cemeteries.
Commitment to pre-planning services to ease the burden on families and ensure personal wishes are honored.

Military & veteran services offered

★Memorial Services

★Veteran Services

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Burial Preparation
· Direct Burial

Cremation

· Direct Cremation

On-site facilities

· Visitation Facilities

· Mortuary Facilities

· Chapel

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Funeral Directors & Morticians Association of North Carolina, Inc.
· Excelsior Credit Union

Specializations

· Veteran Services
· Serving The Black Community

EverSettled · After the Veteran Funeral

The veteran's spouse may qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.

DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and (in some cases) parents of veterans whose death is service-connected. EverSettled walks veteran families through DIC eligibility, survivor pension, life-insurance claims, probate, and the federal-account paperwork that follows.

Begin Veteran Estate Settlement

How honors are coordinated

Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.

For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.