Jose Mario Del Castillo

Jose Mario Del Castillo passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, August 15, 2011 at his home in Show Low, Navajo County, Arizona surrounded by his loving wife and family. He was 80 years old. Jose or, "Joe", as he was affectionately known, was born on November 6, 1930 in Mexico, of Spanish descent, to the late Asuncion and Maria Del Castillo. As a young man, he joined the Army Air Corps which later became the United States Air Force. His service lead him to the foreign lands of Greenland, Korea and Germany and he was able to retire from the military in 1971. Following his retirement, Joe worked for 4 years for the American National Insurance Company and then another 14 years for Farmers Insurance as one of its agents. Joe was a man who enjoyed many hobbies. He loved fine wine and enjoyed wearing his many hats. He appreciated the peacefulness of being outside and was an excellent hunter and fisherman. Jose even found great pleasure working in his garden and was always looking for special projects to work on at his home. He made his house a neighborhood showplace and many passersby commented on how beautiful his home was. Jose Mario Del Castillo is survived by: his wife of 31 years, Dorla Del Castillo; children: Robert (Beth) Del Castillo, Debi (George) Korakas, Violet (Carl) Forwerk, Palmeda Del Castillo, Anna Maria (Rick) Jones, Teri Hunter, Pete (Debbie) Dobyns, Glynis (Jim) Gerrettie, Dani (Jim) Wright, Jere (Rick) Zucker, Leslie (Greg) Brodbeck; 18 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will begin 10:00 A.M., Thursday, August 18, 2011 at St. Mary of The Angels Catholic Church, 1915 S. Penrod Lane in Pinetop, Arizona. The concluding service with military honors will immediately follow at the Lakeside Cemetery in Lakeside, Arizona. The Del Castillo Family would publicly like to send a special "Thank-you" to Hospice Compassus for their support and the loving care that they gave to Jose. Memorial contributions, in Jose's name, to the White Mountain Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 1975, Lakeside, Arizona 85929 have been suggested by his family.