Carlos Castillo

Carlos "Charlie" Castillo, son of Tomas and Adela Castillo, born August 30, 1923 in Phelan, Texas, went to his heavenly father on September 9, 2008 at the age of 85.

Services will be 3 p.m. Friday, September 19, 2008 at the Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery.

A Texas farm boy, Charlie grew up in Bastrop County where he attended school. During WWII, all three of his brothers were inducted into the military leaving Charlie behind. Charlie marched down to the enlistment office and demanded "what about me"! He was promptly enlisted and served in the United States Army during WWII in the European theatre. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he suffered when a German U-Boat sank the US troop ship Leopoldville in the English Channel on December 24, 1944. The Leopoldville was ferrying Charlie and the 66th Infantry Division to the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war, Charlie lived in Chicago, IL until 1970 when he returned to his Texas roots. It was then that Charlie's life would change forever. It was then that his family saved Charlie. He found an institution that to the day he left this earth he adored. That institution is Baylor University. There, he found the spirit of Christ and a love and friendship deeper than he had ever known.

Charlie had a true friend in Dr. Herbert H. Reynolds. A kinder man Charlie said did not exist. Charlie had a great love for Baylor University and its people. He worked at Baylor for 30 years in Pat Neff Hall where he made many great friends. Virginia Crump came to his mind often when he reminisced about Baylor, as did Ann Reed, James Berryhill, Abner McCall and many others. Charlie loved that "Good Old Baylor Line" and an ice cold Dr. Pepper.

Charlie enjoyed Baylor baseball spending many afternoons at the old ballpark on Speight and the new ballpark watching his Bears. Charlie spent many content and happy years at Baylor.

When Charlie's health began to fail, his guardian angel, came to his rescue. Baylor mom and cousin Geneva Mull showed the spirit and love her mother Aurora Villareal brought to this world. "Genie" along with her sisters Rosie, Dora, Connie and niece Glenda showered Charlie with love and affection. Bringing to Charlie the comfort and peace that we prayed the Lord would give him. Genie, unselfishly gave her time and love, to make Charlie comfortable and happy attending to his business needs and bringing him treats and his Dr. Pepper. We will always be humbled by her example of love and affection.

Charlie was preceded in death by brothers, Quintin Castillo of Tucson and David Castillo of Chicago; sisters, Mary Castillo, Angeline Terriquez, Irene Castillo, Deloris Castillo and Emma Garcia all of Chicago.

He is survived by his brother, Manuel Castillo of Chicago; sister Annie Gonzalez of Chicago; daughters, Shirley Laczkowski of South Elgin, IL., Suzanne Hagen and husband, David and Sandra Swan; son, Benjamin Charles "Chuck" Castillo and wife, Brenda of Plano; grandchildren, Gina Loftus, James Eric Laczkowski, Rita Morris and husband, Sean, Derric Hagen, Tracy Swan, Robert Swan, Benjamin Swan, Samantha Swan and Kevin Schneider; great-grandchildren, Corbin Swan, Chance Homan, Keyance "kay kay" Homan, Maylene Morris, Gabriel Morris; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Loden and his nurses and staff and the nurses and staff at Lake Shore Health Care Center and Vista Hospice.

For Charlie, "Sic em' Bears"!