Dorothy Fleming Castle

Dorothy Fleming Castle, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many, passed away July 24, 2008 just two days short of her 97th birthday. She simply went to sleep in her recliner and never awoke. Dorothy was born to Mary and Joseph Fleming on July 26, 1911, in Chicago, Illinois, twenty one years after her father immigrated from Ireland. She was the youngest of four surviving siblings who now have all predeceased her. In 1932 she married Dale F. Castle and raised a family of two daughters, Louise and Lynne. In 1949 the family moved to La Grange, Illinois. After Dale retired she and he relocated to Austin in 1974 where she remained to enjoy her Texas lifestyle and her church for many years after Dale's sudden death in 1976. From childhood through her final years at The Renaissance retirement home, Dorothy offered her musical gifts for others to enjoy in schools, at church, for charitable groups and in social gatherings. At an early age she exhibited the ability to play the piano by ear, and at age eleven she won a Chicago area composition contest. Although she took years of classical music lessons, she was happiest creating her own piano stylings of popular music through the years, and even to the very end of her life she played the piano every day. She was a cheerful hospital volunteer, active in her church, and an exceptionally astute bridge player. However her greatest gifts were unfailing devotion to family and kind words coupled with sincere friendship with many. Dorothy, or "Grammy" as everyone came to know her, will be keenly missed by daughter and son-in-law, Louise and Ronald Geil of Austin, and daughter and son-in¬-law, Lynne and Richard Pixler of La Grange, Illinois. Also grieving her passing are her grandchildren and spouses, Pamela (Geil) and Timothy B. McNutt of Lewisville, Texas, Glenn and Mary Geil of Sugar Hill, Georgia, Gregg and Carolyn Geil of Austin, Carole Pixler and Dan Epstein of Los Angeles, California, and Sharon (Pixler) and Tom Faulkner of Chicago. Grateful to have had her enriching their lives for many years are great-grandchildren Meagan McNutt of Austin, Timothy Fleming McNutt and Amanda McNutt of Lewisville, Texas, and Adam Geil, Brian Geil and Colby Geil of Sugar Hill, Georgia. A celebration of the life of Dorothy Castle will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 8001 Mesa Drive, Austin TX 78731, on Monday, July 28th at 3:00 p.m. following internment at Austin Memorial Park. Memorial gifts may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund or the church's organ fund.