Amalia “Amy” Slocum Gostin of Chattanooga died on March 24, 2015 at the age of 101.
Amy was born on Sept. 10, 1913, in Macon, GA, to the late Karl Reemelin Slocum and Louise DeBlois Boak Slocum. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 1936 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. Following her graduation, Amy was director of Physical Education at Miller High School for a number of years. After receiving a master’s degree from Teacher’s College at Columbia, she returned to her alma mater as an instructor in health and physical education. During World War II, she went on scholarship to Mayo Clinic to study physical therapy, and then worked as director of Swimming and Physical Education at the 19th Century Women’s Club in Oak Park, IL.
After her marriage to Belgrave Foster Gostin in 1953, she moved to Chattanooga. Amy volunteered for many years at the Chattanooga Downtown YMCA, teaching swimming and water aerobics until past the age of 80.
Mrs. Gostin was preceded in death by her husband, Belgrave, and by her brothers, James Robert Slocum and Karl Reemelin Slocum, Jr.
She is survived by her son, Gary Belgrave Gostin and his wife, Janette Strother Gostin of Plano, TX, and by two grandsons, Alan Belgrave Gostin and David Scott Gostin. She is also survived by her sister, Louise Slocum Vinson, and by several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 28, from 12-1 p.m., with services to begin at 1 p.m. in the East Brainerd Chapel with Reverend Wayland Stewart officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Chattanooga YMCA online at www.ymcachattanooga.org/support.
Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastBrainerdChapel.com.