Ray Castle

Ray W. Castle THE VILLAGES, Fla. - Ray W. Castle, 90, passed away Oct. 26, 2010. Born in Blowing Rock, N.C., he attended Pfeiffer University prior to serving in the Army Air Corps, 17th Air Depot Group during World War II. Following the war, Mr. Castle returned to Western North Carolina working with his builder father as well as being an active partner in an excavating and trucking company. Pursuing a career in the federal sector, Mr. Castle and his family later moved to the Hampton Roads area where he lived until his retirement from Norfolk Naval Station. During those years he took full advantage of the area in his love of family, friends, swimming, boating and motorcycles. He had a strong interest in high-performance Ford Mustangs, restoring several of them, along with an AC Cobra. His love of cars rubbed off on his children and together they were very active in a local Mustang Clubs and participated in many autocrosses. After retiring again, he moved to Cape Coral, Fla. Still seeking new challenges in his 60s, when most men would be satisfied to be retired, he returned to his building roots moving back to his birthplace in North Carolina where he and his son David developed his family's property in the Aho District of Boone, N.C. The area he developed he eventually named Heritage Ridge. Years later, Mr. Castle retired once again moving to Belpre, Ohio for a few years prior to moving to The Villages, where he and his wife enjoyed their love of travel, entertaining family and friends. And of course, it was here that Mr. Castle pursued his passion - golf. Just weeks prior to his passing, Ray was still remodeling his home and playing golf. Mr. Castle was preceded in death by his parents, William B. and Ruth W. Castle; brother, Jay W. Castle; and sister Polly C. Martin. Having lived a full and exceptional life, he is survived by his loving wife, Brenda J. Castle; son David W. Castle of The Villages; daughter, Karen C. Stackpole of Virginia Beach; stepsons, Todd E. Sanders of Windsor, Va., and Jeffrey A. Sanders of Rosemont, Minn.; a stepdaughter, Sheila J. Sanders of San Antonio, Texas; and their respective families including six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A graveside service with full military honors will be held for Mr. Castle, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m. in the Florida National Cemetery, 6502 S.W. 102 Ave., Bushnell, FL 33513. A reception to celebrate Ray's life will be held later that afternoon at his home from 4 to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), File 1224, 1801 W. Olympic Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91199-1224 or Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, FL 32162. The family would like to thank Cornerstone Hospice Service, their nurses and the physicians and staff of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in addition to extended family and friends for their care and loving support.