Paul Harvey Casteel Jr.

Paul Harvey Casteel, age 87, died swiftly and peacefully, in his home of two years, Rolling Green Village in Greenville, South Carolina on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Paul was born on October 14, 1936. Beloved as a husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and uncle, he was a Knoxville native, growing up on a farm in west Knox County, Route 1, Concord. Paul accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized as a boy at Grassy Valley Baptist Church. A graduate of Farragut High School, where he played catcher for the Admiral baseball team, he attended the University of Tennessee before enlisting in the United States Navy, where he served on the USS Bearss. He was proud of being a "Tin Can Sailor," and later also served in the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve. He loved this country and was a loyal patriot and grateful veteran.
Paul was a faithful, active, and lifelong member of Central Baptist Bearden, where he met his wife, Nancy Lee Lampkin. They were married more than 65 years. His favorite way to serve the Lord was in Central's bus ministry. He drove for more than 30 years and more than 250,000 miles (he logged them all!) on adventures ranging from western mission trips, youth choir trips, summer camps, fall retreats, senior adult outings, and even UT football games. He spent uncounted hours tending to bus maintenance and training other drivers.
Paul retired from the United States Postal Service in 2000, and he enjoyed his retirement spending time with his grandchildren, gardening, building a model train layout and keeping up with the National Railway Historical Society, watching baseball, chopping wood, and reading biography and history. He began each day reading the Bible and praying by name for each member of his entire family.
In 2022, Paul and Nancy moved to Greenville, South Carolina, to be near their daughter. Only six months after their arrival, Nancy moved to skilled nursing care and Paul to an independent living apartment in the same retirement community. He visited Nancy every day, sitting with her from 9 am until noon and then returning from 1 pm to 4 pm-every day-from December 3, 2022 until his death. Paul's mind remained sharp, and he spent his time reading and keeping up with current events, writing letters, and meeting new people in Greenville.
Paul is survived by his lifelong love, Nancy; their daughter, Paula Angermeier, and her husband, Tom, and their children, Ted and his wife, Brooke; Joe and his fiancée Mary; and the apple of his eye and only granddaughter, Louisa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Flora and Paul Casteel; his sister, Grace Anne Kearse; and by his beloved son, Gary, and is survived by Gary's wife, Karen (Casteel) Byrge and their son and delight of Paul's old age, Ethan Lee Casteel, of Knoxville. His nephews, along with many friends brought much joy to his last years with visits, cards, phone calls, and letters.
A service will be held to commemorate his life on Friday, June 7, at Rose Funeral & Cremation - Mann, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. The family will receive friends from 10 am to 11:30 am with the service following. Interment with veteran's honors will follow immediately at Edgewood Cemetery, 219 S. Gallaher View Road. Memorial gifts may be made to the Henry and Bobbi Chiles Mission Endowment Fund c/o Central Baptist Church of Bearden, 6300 Deane Hill Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919. Online condolences may be made at www.rosefuneraltn.com