He was an ordained bishop with the Church of God and pastored the Kelly’s Ferry Church of God in Tiftonia for 2 1/2 years and Lakeview Church of God in Cleveland for 21 1/2 years.
He also served on the board of the Indian Ministries of North America. He had a passion for ministry, a love for people and a great sense of humor that he often used with both.
He was a graduate of Bradley Central High School, class of 1963. He was a proud veteran of the United States Navy, and served aboard the Destroyer USS Goldsborough in Vietnam from 1964-68. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal and always took joy in flying the American flag.
He was a well-known and respected life insurance agent and retired from Home Beneficial/American General Life Insurance Company after 25 years. He then went to work in the custodial/maintenance division of the Church of God International Offices and retired there as well. He also worked several part-time jobs through the years including jobs at Charlie’s Tires and Pathway Press.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles A. and Pearl (West) Castello; brothers: Charles A. Castello Jr. and Bobby Castello; sister, Margaret Geren; and infant daughter, Miriam L. Castello.
Survivors include his loving wife of 43 years, Phyllis D. Castello, of Cleveland; son, Tom Castello and wife, Nena, of Cleveland; brother, Johnny Castello of Cleveland; sisters: Betty Dunn and husband, Frank Jr. of Old Fort, Patsy Duncan and husband, Robert, of Dayton, Ohio, and Nancy Henry of Dayton, Ohio; and an extended family of brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews who were very special to him.
The home-going service will be held at noon Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at the Lakeview Church of God with the Rev. James Hughes of the Indian Ministries of North America officiating.
Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery with the Rev. Dustin Wilds conducting.
Jimmy Burns, Terry Burns, Tony Burns, Tony Holmes, Troy Pike, and Richard Thomas will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Lakeview Church of God and on Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church.
The family extends appreciation to Hospice of Chattanooga for the wonderful care they showed the family during this difficult time.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to Indian Ministries of North America, P.O Box 3472, Cleveland, TN 37320.
You are invited to share a memory of James and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial Web page and guest book at www.companionfunerals.com.
Companion Funeral & Cremation Service of Cleveland was honored to assist the Castello family with these arrangements.
