Harold Dean Casleton

Harold Dean Casleton died September 9th, 2024. Harold was born October 18, 1935 in a farmhouse near the Du Quoin, Illinois State Fairgrounds to Hiram and Dora Casleton. He was the fifth of their six children and was born on his brother Rays' fifth birthday and they celebrated their birthdays together in many different locales over the years.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents and brothers George, Ray, Hiram Jr., Jeff and his sister, Marceline Faye Carlock. He was also preceded by his wife of 48 years, Doris Jean Casleton. He is survived by his son, Martin (Christa) of Merritt Island, Florida, Daughter, Rebecca, of Elmendorf, Texas, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

While still a toddler, Harold's family moved to nearby Elkville, Illinois, where he grew up and graduated from grade school and high school. Harold graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1957 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He worked for the Elkville Journal as a reporter during his high school and college years and as City Editor for the Benton Evening News prior to entering on active duty with the Air Force in January, 1958. Harold served 22 years in the Air Force in various locales in the United States as well as Taiwan, Okinawa, and Johnston Island. Some of his most memorable achievements and experiences were as commander of the Strategic Air Command's "Missile Crew of the Month" after successfully launching a Titan II missile from an underground silo at Vandenberg AFB, California. He was also privileged to participate as a test conductor and a missile staff officer in live launches of Titan IIIB missiles from Vandenberg and Thor missiles from Vandenberg and Johnston Island in the Pacific Ocean. Harold commanded Detachment 1 of the Tactical Air Warfare Center at Eglin AFB, Florida which launched MACE drone missiles for aircrew and weapons testing over the Gulf of Mexico.

Major Casleton retired from the 1st Strategic Air Division at Vandenberg AFB in 1979. He and his family moved to Merritt Island and he found employment as an engineer with Planning Research Corporation evaluating ground systems for safety prior to the first Space Shuttle Launch. In 1981, he was hired by the Martin Marietta Corporation's Titan Launch Team at Cape Canaveral AFS where he worked as a senior program planner through the end of the Titan III program, the Titan 34D program, and most of the Titan 4A and 4B programs. Harold retired from Lockheed Martin Corp. in 1996. Harold was a member of the First Baptist Church of Merritt Island. He was a life member of the Air Force Association, Missile, Range and Space Pioneers, the Military Officers Assoc. and the Southern Illinois University Alumni Assoc. He was also a member of the Association of Air Force Missileers. He loved activities with his family including those with his and Doris' extended families. He also enjoyed fishing and traveling, especially cruises with his wife and friends and family and he was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball team. He served as a docent at the Air Force Missile and Space Museum at Cape Canaveral and he and Doris were volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels for more than 15 years. Hal, Dad, Paw Paw, will be missed dearly by his friends and family.

The Wylie Baxley Funeral Home will handle services with interment at the National Cemetery in Mims, Florida. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to The Brevard Veterans Memorial Center, 400 South Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32953