In Memory of

Louis

Frank

"Frank"

DeCastro

Obituary for Louis Frank "Frank" DeCastro

Louis Frank DeCastro, Sr. passed away on Dec. 27, 2017. He joined his wife of 58 years, Josephine who died Dec.3, 2003.
Born in Akron on Feb. 18, 1922 he had served in the Army's 37th Infantry Div. in the South Pacific Theatre during Word War II. He was a prisoner of war in Japan and received a Purple Heart. It is rumored that he flipped a Japanese Jeep of the trail allowing his crew to continue, just one example of his legendary strength.

Frank never shied away from He's work - working three jobs at points in his life. He worked for Bell Music Co. of Akron for 60 years, he loved his work and was good at it. The company would often save the especially perplexing machines for Frank to fix.
Despite Frank’s feats of strength, bravery, and hard work, he always retained a huge soft spot for his wife, Josephine. Their long loving relationship of 58 years gave birth to generations of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He would get a kick out of getting Josephine fired up. She would yell out “Frank!” at his ornery antics. His face would light up with a childlike zeal and he would laugh innocently at us like surely he did nothing wrong.

He had this way of teaching others, acting as if he was unsure how to do something. Together they would discover the answer, and the helper would gain a sense of accomplishment. Many learned a great deal from Frank, not just skills and facts, but most importantly, how to be kind, generous and helpful.

The grandchildren fondly remember his “Ice Cream Parties” after Sunday spaghetti dinners. He would head the table of kids, filling bowls to the top, out of a 5-gallon tub. He always had a smile or joke at the ready to join in, right along with the kids. Frank never let anything take away his soft side for his family.

His survivors include children: Mary Donna (Jim) Rosneck, Bill (Linda) DeCastro, Carol Lancianese, Margaret (Jerry) Brown, Victor (Karen) DeCastro, L. Frank DeCastro, Jr. (Laura Langsdale), Tina DeCastro Gmerek, Amy DeCastro (Jon Wages); grandchildren, Nicole (Ed), Anna (Chris), Dustin (Dawn), Donna (Dave), Nicholas (Kristin), Brandon (Lindsey), Wendy (Brian), Crystal, Melinda (Mike), Tom (Amanda), Keith, Shannon (Mike), Kurt, Kyle, and Connor; great grandchildren; Mia, Josefina, Maddie, Aniya, Brendon, Vincenzo, Amira, Emma, Salvatore, Camden, Luka, Emory, Nikos, Brogan, and MacKenzie Joe; siblings, Dudley DeCastro and Margaret DeCastro Barber. Besides his wife, Josepine he was preceded in death by (Parents) Bill and Mary DeCastro
(Siblings) Bill DeCastro, Pat DeCastro, and Tom DeCastro, (Son-in-law) Tom Lancianese, (Daughter-in-Law) Danean DeCastro.
His ability to hold onto and protect a childlike innocence despite all the hardships he overcame, and the strength he carried, is what made him a one of a kind whose memory will live on in the innumerable lives he touched.
Calling hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29th at the Dunn-Quigley Funeral Home (811 Grant St.) Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 Saturday at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, interment at Holy Cross Cemetery will follow.