The Shadow
Laura Marlene Casto
Ms. Laura Marlene Casto, 92, of Oak Island, NC passed on to her eternal life on June 15, 2025. Laura Marlene was born on May 10, 1933, at home in Hubbel, WV, to the late Rev. Ollie Saunders and Martha Esteppe Saunders. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Bryan Christopher Casto, daughter Jan Marie Stavinoha, sister Gloria Ann Saunders, sister Wilma Jean Drinkard, brother Homer Gene Saunders and brother Ralph Donovan Saunders.
She is survived by her son, Greg Casto and wife Jakey, daughter Lisa Malcom and husband Mike, son-in-law Doug Stavinoha, four grandchildren, Mitch Casto and wife Meghan, Matt Casto, Will Stavinoha and Dana Stavinoha, two great grandchildren, Ollie and Otto Casto, two sisters, Alice Fricke and Mabel Little, brother-in-law Carl Little, sister-in-law Peggy Saunders, and many special nieces and nephews who loved her.
Her lifetime residences included: Branchland, WV, Logan, WV (attended Logan High School), Huntington, WV (graduated from Huntington High School and attended Marshall University), Covington, VA, Arlington, TX, and Oak Island, NC.
She was known as “Marlene” to her family and close friends and was proud of her accomplishments. Her greatest accomplishment was being a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Marlene was a member of the Covington (VA) Junior Woman’s Club and the Covington City School Board. She graduated from Radford University, (1974), as one of their first commuting students, traveling 180 miles a day, several days a week to attend classes. She received her Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia, (1978), and taught in the Bath County (VA) public school and Arlington (TX) public school systems for over 20 years.
Laura Marlene retired to her Oak Island, NC beach home in 2000, where she assisted with senior services, beach host volunteer activities, and served as “turtle mom” for hatchling nests on Oak Island.
A private service for family and close friends will be held at Loving Funeral Home, Covington, VA on July 11, with interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Hospital, 6621Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030 (texaschildrens.org-DONATE icon in memory of Casto/Stavinoha).
