Henry Sotero Castaneda

Henry was born in Santa Ana California on April 22, 1936, the eldest son of Enrique and Rumalda Castaneda. As a youth, he loved boxing and fought several matches in California before enlisting in the US Army. He was a young man of seventeen when he enlisted and assumed responsibility for his family upon his father passing away of leukemia. He served his country for just over 3 years; 3 months of which he was hospitalized after being shot during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged with the National Defense Services Medal for serving his country. He was very proud of his service to his country. After military life, he began driving eighteen wheelers and eventually made his way to Florida where he met the love of his life, Juanita. They married in Las Vegas on August 19, 1979. Henry worked for Grantham’s Distributing Company for thirty years as a long and short distance truck driver and went by the CB handle “Chile Pepper.” After retiring he couldn’t bear not working and returned to work at Penske shuttling trucks around Orlando for seven years. He was never one to just sit around and would stay busy even when his health was failing him; helping his grandson Austin work in the yard or around the house. His strength and compassion for all that touched his life made him a hero.

Henry is survived by his wife, Juanita Miller Castaneda; four step-children and spouses: Sherri A. De Lau, Jon and Carrie Schneider, Lisa A. Castaneda, Jerry and Jeanne Schneider; daughter: Lucille Lopez; daughter-in-law: Adna Castaneda; grandchildren: Brittnee De Lau, Kelsey Wright, Austin De Lau, Mekala Schneider, Mekenzie Schneider, Macie Schneider, Grant Schneider, Ryan Schneider, Karli Bousquet, Mae Schneider; seven siblings and spouses: Pauline Palmore, Freddy Castaneda, Tina Gardena, Blas Castaneda, Mary Adame, Steve and Lydia Castaneda, Kenneth Castillo, Earl Castillo and many extended family members, grandchildren and great grandchildren in Florida, North Carolina and California.

He is predeceased by his father Enrique Camacho Castaneda and mother Rumalda Galvan Castaneda; his grandparents on his mother’s side, Silvano and Belen Cordova Galvan; grandparents on his father’s side, Ignacio Castaneda and Tiburcia Camacho Castaneda; siblings: Joe Castaneda, Victor Castaneda and Ronald Castillo; sons Henry Galvan Castaneda and Victor Henry Castaneda.

The service will be held on Saturday, August 1st at 1:00pm at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery in Gotha, Florida. Memorial funds have been set up and if you’d like to donate or to leave a kind word, please access the website for Henry Castaneda's Memorial Fund http://www.gofundme.com/2j8gf6e9r4.

Strength, compassion, our father, our hero.