Wilfred Castro's Obituary
Wilfred Castro Sr., a beloved resident of Lorain, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 2, 2024 after a remarkable 86 years of life.
Wilfred, a proud resident of Lorain, was born in New York City on April 18th, 1938. He lived in New York until joining the United States Air Force in 1955. Wilfred served his country with distinction until 1959 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where he met and fell in love with his future wife, Mary Castro (nee De La Mora). Their love story lasted nearly 62 years until Mary’s unexpected passing in April 2020.
Although not originally from Lorain, Wilfred considered it his home from the moment he moved there. Together, Wilfred and Mary raised six children in Lorain and remained devoted and proud residents of the city throughout their lives. Wilfred’s commitment to Lorain extended beyond his family; he joined the Lorain City Police Department in 1963 and dedicated the next twenty-six years of his career to serving and protecting the community. Wilfred was very proud of his time serving the community as an officer of the law in his many roles including patrolman, detective, shift commander, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. He had especially fond memories of his time in the Juvenile Bureau because of the lifelong friendships made with his partners/brothers and the positive impact they had helping young men and women.
A devout Catholic, Wilfred was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Church. In addition, to his strong faith, Wilfred was also a passionate advocate for education. He worked diligently early in his career to support his growing family while simultaneously attending college. He was proud of his personal accomplishment graduating from LCCC but even more proud seeing all of his children complete their college education. Wilfred continued a life of service as a volunteer for more than thirty years with the Lorain Board of Elections, served as a Member of the Lorain City Council from 1990 to 1993, volunteered for the Census Bureau in 2000 and 2010, and was a lifetime member of Lorain AMVETS Post 47.
After retiring from the Police Force in 1986, Wilfred remained very active volunteering and going back to an earlier career that had begun in 1960 as an insurance agent. With Nationwide Insurance, he resumed his insurance agent role for another ten years. Wilfred was a dedicated and hardworking individual who managed to strike a balance between his work and pleasure. He cherished his leisure time spent with his family including eight grandchildren and especially his beloved wife, Mary, whom he shared countless joyful moments. Together, they embarked on numerous travels exploring the world including some of their favorites: Italy, Spain, Mexico, Alaska and many other locations throughout the United States and Canada. Wilfred was also a “news junkie” and always showed great interest and knowledge of politics, government, and current events. Even in his final days, he remained eager to engage in lively discussions about politics and public policy, showcasing his passion for these topics.
Throughout his life, Wilfred cultivated rewarding relationships with friends and family, making his life a testament to the joy and fulfillment that come from meaningful connections. Wilfred, a beloved father, husband, and grandfather, is survived by his sons Wilfred Jr., Dennis and Kevin (Jamie); daughters Cindy Castro-White and Lori Hritsko; grandchildren Joshua, Eric, Danielle (Evan), Brian, Emily, Keith and Carly; great-grandchildren Lucas, Emerson and Sunnie; sister Irene De La Torre; sister-in-law Lucy and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Wilfred was preceded in death by his cherished wife, Mary Castro (nee De La Mora), father, Ramon Castro, mother Leonides Castro (nee Rosado), son Keith, grandson Jacob, brother Michael and son-in-law Robert Hritsko Jr.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to Cleveland Clinic Hospice, the Staff at Kingston of Vermilion, and Kristie Flickinger for the compassionate and tremendous care that was given to Wilfred.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. at the St. Peter Parish, 3655 Oberlin Ave., Lorain, OH. Mass of Christian Burial will follow the visitation at 12:00 p.m., Bishop John Stowe and Rev. Father Craig Hovanec, Pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow at Ridge Hill Memorial Park.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dovinreberjones.com
During this challenging time, your heartfelt thoughts and prayers for Wilfred and his family are deeply appreciated.
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