Andrew Patrick Kastle

Andrew (Andy) Kastle, 95, passed away on February 7 after a long, well-lived life. Andy was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on June 21, 1929, to Andrew Peter Kastle and Anna (Donnelly) Kastle McFarland. His father passed away shortly after his birth, and Anna married Jacob McFarland. Jacob was a loving father and mentor to Andy. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Grace (Doerflien) Kastle, and Mary (Miller) Kastle. He is survived by his son, Andrew (Beth) Kastle; daughter, Katherine (Wayne) Wells; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He will be missed by his longtime friend, Jeanette Wilkes.

Andy was a devoted Catholic and was a charter member and lifetime parishioner of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church. He filled many roles at St. Philip, but his favorite was singing in the choir until he was in his 80s. Andy loved listening to music, particularly the Big Band era. His favorite tune was Frank Sinatra's "I Did It My Way," and he certainly followed that mantra until the end. He was also a 3rd-degree Knight of Columbus, Council 3864.

Andy was a proud veteran with over 40 years of military service, beginning with the Civil Air Patrol in 1944, serving during the Korean War, and later with the Ohio National Guard and Army Reserves.

He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration in the early 1980s but continued to work as a contractor for the government in Washington, D.C. He loved being in Washington, which afforded him the opportunity to enjoy the museums and historical sites in the area.

Andy was an amateur radio enthusiast and, for many years, operated as part of the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS), using the call letters K8DWP.

When he finally retired from "work," he spent several years as a volunteer at the Ohio Historical Society, where he enjoyed teaching and role-playing in Ohio Village. He particularly enjoyed any role in which he could wear his service uniforms and talk about the military.

The family would like to thank: Kevin Brierly, his longtime aide; Joe Hammonds, who drove him to Mass; and the staff at The Villas at St. Therese, Mother Angeline McCrory Manor, and Mt. Carmel Hospice.

Donations can be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society in care of Holy Spirit Church, 4383 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43213, and Honor Flight Columbus, P.O. Box 20133, Columbus, Ohio 43220.