Frank Guevara Castillo

DURHAM, NC – Frank G Castillo, age 82, passed to the arms of our Lord on June 9th, 2026. He was born in San Antonio on April 1st, 1944, to the loving arms of the late Francisco and Maria de la Luz Castillo.

Frank enlisted in the US Army and attended basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood and Advanced training at Fort Polk. He attended airborne school at Fort Benning followed by the Parachute Rigger course at Fort Lee.

After 30 years of outstanding service, he retired on June 1, 1992, with honor as a Command Sergeant Major. He retired from active service at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, having given his career to the country he loved.

He was a Master Parachutist and Pathfinder, and a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. His service included combat duty in Vietnam and Southwest Asia, and over the course of his career he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, and numerous other decorations and badges recognizing his courage and devotion to duty.

But for Frank, his truest mission in life was the family he spent his life building. Every Sunday, he could be found at Mass, and he was happiest surrounded by his grandchildren. He had a way of turning strangers into friends — whether it was the men he served alongside in the Army or someone he met in the community — and he was loved by everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Frank is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Irma Castillo; his daughters, Roxy Steiner and Julie Scott, along with her husband Todd; his grandchildren, Caroline Andrews, Lyndsay Estroff, Alexander Scott, Bailey Scott, Olivia Scott, Joseph Steiner, and Carson Steiner; cherished great-grandchildren Bodi Andrews, Landon Estroff, and Greyson Estroff. Frank is also survived by his sisters, Guadalupe Garcia and Toni Lozano.

In addition to his parents, Frank is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Felecia Ann Castillo; and his brothers, Alfonso Castillo, Francisco Zapata, and Daniel Zapata.

A period of public visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 17th from 5:00-7:00 PM at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, 1113 W. Main St., Durham, NC.

A funeral mass will take place at 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 18th, 2026 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 11401 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC with burial to follow the mass at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions in Frank’s memory be made to the Disabled American Veterans (Memorial Gifts) or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Castillo family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries