Carlos Zwinglio Castillo

Carlos Z. Castillo, a resident of New Orleans for the past five decades, was called to his final rest by our Lord and Savior on Sunday, February 15, 2015, after a prolonged illness. Carlos is survived by his wife, Maria Ines Castillo, and their son, Roman Castillo. Carlos also is the father of nine children, Carlos Jr., Rene (deceased, 1998), Marco, Victor (Sharlotte), Lucia C. Speck (Mark Lumetta), Silvia C. Marr (Matthew), Hector (deceased, 1980), Hernan (Yolanda), and Susana E. Watkins, born during his prior marriage to Elizabeth “Betty” Williams Castillo, who recently passed. Carlos was the beloved son of the late Carlos Castillo and Guadalupe Guadiana Castillo of Mexico, and is the brother of Querdido Castillo (Jean) of Brentwood, Tennessee, and Omega Litton (John) of College Station, Texas. Carlos is grandfather to Jason, Rachel, Sarah, Alexander, Dominic, Jonathan, Janelle, Nathaniel, Vincent, Claudia, Seth, Rebecca, and Eamon, and great-grandfather to seven.

Carlos was born in Winters, Texas. He served in the Merchant Marines from 1943 to 1945. Carlos then earned his Bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. Thereafter, Carlos lived in Alaska and Kentucky before settling in New Orleans. Carlos first opened Castillo’s Mexican Restaurant in Houma, Louisiana, in the 60’s before moving his restaurant to the French Quarter, where Castillo’s operated for 30 continuous years at the same location on 620 Conti Street, receiving local and national acclaim for his cuisine. A successful businessman, Carlos acquired several buildings in the French Quarter and surrounding area, as well. Carlos also pursued extensive reading and enjoyed traveling abroad. Intelligent, passionate, and colorful, Carlos will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Ines, children and family, Mauricio and other friends, and all who knew him.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Monday, February 23, 2015 from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, La. A funeral mass will follow the visitation in the chapel at 1:00 pm.