Andres Castro

"Tell me about a complicated man," - Emily Wilson, The Odyssey

Andres Castro Sr. was son to Lola Mulero and Valentin Castro Sr. Born in Humacao, Puerto Rico on Nov. 10, 1935, Andres served in the United States Military Army Reserves from 1954-1962, during which time, he received a Good Conduct Medal. Andres was preceded in death by his mother and father, Lola and Valentin; his brothers Jesus M. Castro Mulero, Julio Castro Mulero, Sebastían Castro Mulero, and Santiago Castro Mulero; his sister Elsie Castro Mulero; and his son Andres Castro Jr. He is succeeded by his brother and sister Valentin Castro Jr. and Gladys Castro Mulero; daughters, Minerva Castro Elsayed and Nancy Cruz (son-in-law Luis Cruz); daughter-in-law Jackie Bailey; his granddaughters Lis Madeline Castro, Sabrina McKoy (granddaughter-in-law Keyla), and Isabel Ines Cruz; adoptive nephew and nieces Jonathan Buckman, Lisette Freyre, and Sheena Martinez (adoptive great-grandnephews Kainos, Dylan, and Luke); and his great-granddaughters Lyahbelle and Lumielle Hernandez and Charlotte McKoy.

A lover of solitude and a man of stern disposition, Andres was an Army man through and through, prizing order and cleanliness above all else. Andres was happiest eating Bugles and watching What Would You Do? after having 'played the number' at the bodega with his mamacitas-the generous and kind cashiers who lavished him with attention. He was a fabulist, a tremendous storyteller, regaling us with epics both true and untrue to entertain himself just as much as his family; like cuentos of walking miles to go to school in the snow in tropical Puerto Rico. After living in Paterson, New Jersey, for over 50 years-nearly 20 of those years spent living with daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter; Nancy, Luis, and Isabel-Andres relocated to Gastonia, North Carolina, to live with son and daughter-in-law Andres Castro Jr. and Jackie Bailey. For the last years of his life, he was surrounded and cared for by Jackie and her loving family; Zantaria AKA Zany; Zakiyyah and Donnell; Dewan AKA "Kook"-the only "Doctor" he trusted; and Damon;

It is only fitting to end this the way he ended his phone calls: We love you grandpa, buckle up!