It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Robert H. Castañeda on November 15, 2021, after a long and heroic battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and heart disease. The courage, strength, and perseverance that he showed when bravely fighting against these diseases left us amazed and inspired. He passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his loving family. He is now free from pain and undoubtedly looking for a team of angels to coach.
Robert was born in 1952 in Laredo, Texas, to Beatrice and Domingo Castañeda.
Robert graduated from Tuloso-Midway High School in 1971 and attended Del Mar College where he met his loving wife. They established their home in Corpus Christi where they raised their two children. He retired from Citgo Refinery in 2012 after 36 years of dedicated service.
Everyone who met Robert described him as an amazing and kind-hearted man. Robert was both a devoted and loving husband and father. Robert always put his family before himself and worked hard to provide his family with the life he felt they deserved. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world and he proved that to them every single day.
Robert loved and was passionate about sports. Besides being able to recite any known sports statistic, he enjoyed playing, coaching, and officiating sports. In 1994 he joined the Southwest Basketball Officials Association and later joined the Corpus Christi Chapter of the Texas Association of Sports Officials. Robert enjoyed officiating basketball and volleyball games in Corpus Christi and surrounding areas until 2011 when PSP robbed him of this joy.
After his retirement he moved to Pflugerville, Texas where he joined the Knights of Columbus Council 10373. In October of 2014, he became a Fourth Degree Knight. Robert enjoyed working with his Knight brothers on many service projects. His caring nature led him to additional volunteer work that included helping with the “This Man is You” program, volunteering with the hospitality committee at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church, and assisting with a variety of tasks at a local food bank. Sadly, the world will have a little less joy and laughter due to the loss of our beloved, Robert.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Beatrice Castañeda; his father, Domingo Castañeda; his father-in-law, Arnulfo T. Barrera; his mother-in-law, Carolina Garza Barrera; his sisters, Yvonne Garza and Edna Castañeda; and his sister-in-law, Anabelle Castañeda. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Alma Barrera Castañeda; his son, Robert Eric Castañeda (Patricia); his daughter, Brandi Marie Frazier (Corey Sr.); four grandsons, John Brandon Longoria, Eric Zachary Castañeda, Corey William Frazier Jr., and Aiden Tyler Frazier; his siblings Rolando Castañeda (Esther), Janie Castañeda Beck (Scott), Roy Castañeda, Randall Castañeda; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Hospice Nurse Sylvia and the other hospice staff who provided such outstanding care to our beloved Robert.
A celebration of life will take place in Corpus Christi. Visitation will be held at Memory Gardens Funeral Home and Chapel on November 30, 2021, at 4:30 pm with a Rosary to follow at 7 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at Most Precious Blood Chapel on December 1st at 10 a.m. followed by his interment at Memory Garden Mausoleum.
