Joe H Castillo

Joe H. Castillo, beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend was called to be with the Lord one day short of his 87th birthday. His true birthday gift was one that he longed for in joining his beloved wife Cora in heaven. Although he enjoyed his family, friends, fishing, Spurs, Cowboys, and Texas Rangers, his emptiness was apparent with the 2004 loss of the love of his life after 54 years of marriage. Joe was born August 12, 1928 and was preceded in death by his son, Jesse in 2011 and his young daughter, Anna Lisa in 1959. Joe proudly served his country in the Navy during World War II and also served his community and church through various community activities. Joe was a volunteer Bexar County Sherriff officer and was on many SAISD community committees, as well as being instrumental in helping to initiate the Palm Heights Pony and Colt League baseball programs in the 1960’s. His strong Catholic faith led Joe to becoming a proud member of the Knights of Columbus at St. John Berchmans, where he served as Grand Knight and was also a 4th degree member of Assembly 1855. His many friends that he knew from his 35 years of employment at Kelly AFB were truly an extended family as he was an aircraft electrician specializing on the C5A and C141 cargo planes. Joe was very active in his children’s activities and at an early age, enjoyed participating with his San Antonio Wolverine football team, and was a respected boxer with the San Antonio Golden Gloves. He participated with various softball teams at Kelly AFB, and also coached Little League baseball teams. He also enjoyed a good laugh while managing some athletically challenged members of Holy Spirit’s Catholic softball teams. He was competitive at all he did, and taught others to do the same. In January of 2012, Joe suffered a TIA stroke which would require care from an assisted living facility. His prognosis was for less than a year of life due to his cancer and diabetes, so a move to a suburb of Dallas, Coppell, Texas was initiated to help Joe through this period of time. Through the grace of God and the wonderful caregivers that were his true Angels, his stroke symptoms disappeared and his health improved tremendously. Joe did not plan on a life to die, yet planned on a life to live. His new goal was to enjoy what time Christ gave to him. Joe took in Rangers and Cowboys games, as well as seeing his baseball playing family participate collegiately as well as watching his sons play, when they probably should not have been playing anymore! Heavy hearts are abundant as Joe “temporarily” leaves behind his three children, son Joe Castillo Jr. of Rowlett, Texas, and fiancée Barbara, as well as Joe Jr’s. daughter, Chelsey. Daughter Linda Campbell and her husband Jim, of San Antonio and step children Michael and Chris. Son David and his wife Christy of Coppell, Texas and son Chris and daughter Kristy Vela of San Antonio. Joe’s departed and beloved son, Jesse also left behind daughter Jessica and Danny. Great grandchildren Ashiya, Diego, Giovanni, and Ayden Vela will cherish the memories from their Grandpa Joe as will Granddaughter Dora Lee Ortega. Joe’s two sisters, Helen Wright and Gloria Gaudet will also miss the love and laughter that Joe so often provided. A public viewing and celebration of Joe’s life will be held on Saturday, August 15 at Rolling Oaks Funeral Home in Coppell, Texas from 4:00 p.m. thru 8:00 p.m., with a rosary at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will then be held at Porter Loring Mortuary at 1101 McCullough Avenue in San Antonio beginning on Sunday, August 16 at 5:00 p.m. until normal office hours Wednesday morning, August 20. A rosary will be given on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at Porter Loring, with the mass to be held at St. John Berchmans Catholic Church at 1147 Cupples Road at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Family friend and Priest, Father Fred Caldwell of Dallas, Texas will help share the celebration of mass. The procession will depart after Mass with graveside services at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery where his body will be reunited with that of his beloved wife, Cora. Pallbearers are grandson Chris Castillo, great grandson Diego Vela, nephews Mike Barboza and Johnnie Johnston, and family friends Andy Flowers and Charlie Esquivel. A reception and continued celebration of Joe’s life will be held at the home of niece, Connie Caffey immediately following the graveside services. “Finally Home”