By Joe Johnson
Two retired Athens educators died Thursday after their house in South Carolina caught fire during Hurricane Dorian, according to published reports.
The Charleston-based Post & Courier reported that Linda Caston, 74, and her husband Donnie Caston, 80 died from smoke inhalation from the fire that erupted as the powerful hurricane swept through their hometown of Mount Pleasant, S.C.
According to their obituaries published in the Post & Courier, Donnie Caston was born in 1938 in Jackson, Ga. and Linda Caston was born in Athens in 1944.
The couple met while attending the University of Georgia, where they both earned Master’s degrees in Education.
They married after graduating from UGA and were together for 52 years.
The Castons were both educators in the Clarke County School District, where Linda taught first through third grade for 32 years, and in 1986 was selected as the district’s teacher of the year.
Donnie was a physical education teacher, a vice principal and director of transportation for the school district.
He also officiated high school football and basketball games for over 20 years.
Surviving family members will receive friends at Isle of Palms Baptist Church, 14 24th Ave., Isle of Palms, S.C. on Tuesday, with funeral services immediately following.
Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.mcalister-smith.com.