Charles Hilmon Castle

1928 - 2016

Charles Hilmon Castle
In Loving Memory
Salt Lake City, UT-Our beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather, Charles Hilmon Castle, peacefully passed away December 26, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He lived a long life; a life of his choosing. Born February 15, 1928 in a home near the small rural town of Walthall, Mississippi to Hays Delashman and Ruby Bowen Castle. He spent most of his childhood in Pachuta, Mississippi. At the age of eight, he contracted polio that resulted in a disability affecting his ability to walk for the rest of his life. Hilmon's disability did not keep him from being physically active. He was the first Eagle Scout from Pachuta, Mississippi. He played both high school football and basketball, played in the marching band in high school and college and won the Golden-Glove Boxing Novice Division at Ole Miss.
Not wanting to ever return to work in his father's saw mill, Hilmon enrolled at the University of Mississippi one week after he graduated from high school. He continued his education until graduating from Duke University Medical School in 1951. After completing a medical internship at Duke Hospital, Hilmon moved to Salt Lake City for residency training at the old Salt Lake County Hospital followed by a fellowship in cardiology. Hilmon discovered skiing, tennis (which he played almost daily until his early eighties) and a new home in Utah. He served for two years as an Internist and Captain in the United States Air Force in Madrid, Spain and for nine years as a flight surgeon with the Utah National Guard. His early life of hardship in rural Mississippi was an abiding influence on Hilmon's professional commitment. He was always interested in ways to provide medical care to underserved populations. In 1959, Hilmon accepted a faculty position at the University of Utah College of Medicine and in 1970, he became the chairman of the newly created Department of Family and Preventative Medicine that he chaired until 1984. During that time, he spent many weekends traveling the country looking at programs of Community Medicine as well as Physician Assistant programs. He was instrumental in starting both training programs in Utah. He also chaired the American Heart Association Teaching Fellowship Program and in 1985 the Utah Medical Association named him Physician of the year. Hilmon taught countless fledging physicians at the University of Utah College of Medicine. It was always a source of pleasure for him to encounter his students in the community and in the field. He experienced personal fulfillment when he saw their good work and dedication to the profession he loved.
He is survived by 5 children, Cynthia Collins, Carolyn Havert, Cy Castle, Chris Castle and Candace Neff, grandchildren, great grandchildren and his two brothers, Deral Grey and Harroll Dean. He is proceeded in death by his oldest brother, Hays.
A private memorial services will take place on Memorial-Day weekend in Mississippi. A marker will be placed and his ashes spread in Bellefontaine and Sapa where his father and mother are respectively buried. To share thoughts and memories with our family please visit www.cityviewmemoriam.com.