Frederick Joseph Kastner

Mr. Frederick Joseph Kastner died peacefully at home on August 18, 2012. Fred, devoted husband, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, was born in Newark, New Jersey on November 26, 1918. Having lost his mother and infant sister in his youth, he was raised by this father and his grandmother.

He started working at Westinghouse in Newark at the age of 19, a company where his father, several uncles and cousins were employed. He left in 1940 to go into the Army for a year. He returned to Westinghouse for 4 months and when Pearl Harbor was attacked 1941, Fred returned to the military for 4 more years, this time with the Navy. On November 18,1943, he married the “love of his life”, Elizabeth (Betty) Boffard in Irvington, NJ and began a life of complete dedication and devotion. In 1945, he returned to Westinghouse. In 1955, he had the opportunity to relocate to the new meter division of Westinghouse in Raleigh, NC and upon establishing a home in Cary NC, continued his 42year career with the company retiring in 1981 as a Senior Buyer. Upon his retirement, his family had provided over 200 years of dedicated service to Westinghouse.

Fred was very involved in his community. Upon his retirement, he delivered Meals on Wheels for over 20 years, made many a french fry at the First United Methodist Church fair booth, volunteered at election time with the Wake County Board of Elections and served as treasurer of both the FUMC “Young” Men’s Bible Study Sunday School class and the Cary Senior’s Golf Association. But nothing provided him more joy than spending time with his grandchildren, whether it was seeing his granddaughter’s play performance, watching his grandson drive and putt a golf ball or just taking walks around the park, he was proud and content.

Fred is survived by his wife, Betty; his sons Tom, of Greensboro, NC, and Fred (wife, Barbara) of Cary and his daughter Susan Castle (husband, Ed) also of Cary, his grandson, Ryan Frederick Castle, of Summerville, SC and granddaughters, Carrington Elizabeth Castle of Midlothian, VA and Jill Panichelli (husband, Scott) of Durham and his great-granddaughter, Alexandra Panichelli.

A funeral service will be held 3:00 pm Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC 27511. Burial will follow the service at Raleigh Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 pm Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to Meals on Wheels of Wake County, P.O. Box 37639, Raleigh, NC 27627-7639.

Condolences may be sent to www.BrownWynneCary.com