Anthony James Castle

He played sports throughout his young life including baseball, football, golf and basketball.

His older brother, Alfred, got him interested in playing trumpet and was quite persistent about making him practice. He ultimately became an accomplished musician. By age 14, he was already performing in local bands. He attended college at Fredonia State Teachers college (now called S.U.N.Y. at Fredonia) in his hometown of Fredonia in western New York and played a year of collegiate basketball before enlisting in the U.S. Army.

He served in Germany at the end of WWII. Following his basic training in the Army, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and placed in charge of a traveling Army band. This band toured throughout Germany entertaining US troops. After honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to western New York where he finished his college education.

During that time, he met the love of his life, Angela Spina who was a singer and music teacher. They were married for 63 years.

They raised two sons, James and Stephen. In his hometown area of Western NY, Anthony was known affectionately as “Hoppy.” He worked as a Prudential Insurance agent for over 27 years. During this time, he continued playing his trumpet with various bands usually on weekends. Once retired from Prudential, Anthony and Angie moved to Boynton Beach, Florida for many years, then ultimately to Roswell, NM where Angie passed away in 2013.

He loved Roswell and made many good friends. He continued playing in The Roswell Jazz and community bands until recently. He was always known as a devoted family man with a wonderful sense of humor and positive outlook on life. He was particularly excited about the recent birth of his first great grandchild, Jackson Anthony, on March 12, 2019. He will be dearly missed.

He is survived by two sons and their wives. Dr. James and Ellen Castle of Roswell, NM and Dr. Steve Castle and Dr. Sue Kelly of Windsor, CO, six grandchildren Nicholas and Katrina Castle of Buford, GA, Dr Zachary and Danielle Castle of Midland, TX, Samantha (Castle) and Matthew Fisher of Midland, TX, Jordan, Nathan and Elise Castle of Loveland, CO, and one great grandson Jackson Anthony Castle of Buford, GA.

Those preceding Anthony in death are his brother Alfred and wife Jane Castle, Sisters Mamie and husband Anthony Bucolo, Carrie and husband Joseph LoGuidice, Frances and Husband Joseph Fote, Marion and husband Dr. Louis Conti.

Funeral arrangements through Ballard Funeral Chapel. A remembrance and sharing ceremony is scheduled at Assumption Catholic Church at 9 a.m., Monday, April 19, 2019. Followed by a Funeral Mass.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory. An online registry can be accessed at www.ballardfuneralhome.com.