William R. “Bill” Casteel
William R. “Bill” Casteel, Major, USAF (Ret.), 82, of Lockhart, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 12. He was born on April 9, 1922 in La Porte, Texas to Luther Uriel Casteel and Roma Campbell Casteel.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Lurley Ardath (Dixie) Lampkin Casteel; brother, Luther Ray Casteel; sister, Joyce Sly; grandchildren, Karen Faith Casteel
and Blake Carter.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Dorothy Casteel of Lockhart; sons, William M. “Skip” Casteel and wife Anna of Wimberley; David R. Casteel and wife Kathy of Houston; Wayne R. Casteel and wife Leslie of Lockhart; and Ralph Casteel and wife Frances of Lockhart; daughters, Priscilla Hellums and husband Terry of Austin; Dixie Grant of McNeil; Jo Ellen Young and husband Jerry of Baytown; and Carol Martin and husband Stanley of Lockhart; brother, Marvin Owen Casteel and wife Vera of La Porte; sisters, Mary Ella Elkins of Baytown; and Pauline Singleton and husband Leonard of Baytown; 24 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Bill graduated from La Porte High School, Class of 1939. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 and by 1943, was a First Lieutenant in the 7th Air Force, 11th Bomber Group, 26th Squadron. He was a pilot of the B-24 in the Pacific Theater and flew missions for the Berlin Air Lift Operation. He served his country during WWII and Korean War, then retired as a Major, Senior Command Pilot in 1964 at the Columbus AFB, Columbus, Miss. He then went on to serve the government as a Staff Civil Engineer, retiring in 1987 at Bergstrom AFB in Austin.
He was a member of the American Legion, Henry T. Rainey Post #49 and the First United Methodist Church. He was also a Troop Leader for the Boy Scouts of America.
Visitation was held from 6 – 8:00 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 13, at McCurdy Funeral Home. Services were held at 1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 14, at McCurdy Memorial Chapel, Rev. Don Duvall officiating. Internment followed at the Lockhart City Cemetery.
Special Thanks to Hospice (Odyssey House) Austin; Chisolm Trail Nursing and Rehab Center and family and friends for prayers.
Memorials may be made in his honor to the Hospice (Odyssey House) Austin, First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or Chisolm Trail Nursing and Rehab Center.
Arrangements under the care of McCurdy Funeral Home, 105 E. Pecan St., Lockhart, Texas 512-398-4791.
Sorry to hear of your loss. Your cousin Glenna Little. Family still stay in contact. Bill was a cousin. Luther was my direct cousin. My grandmother was Fanny Belinda Lousia Casteel Darlington. (Uriel Casteel) I am a distant cousin from Washington State….