Alfonso R. Castano

Alfonso R. Casta�o received his citizenship to Heaven as he passed from this life on Friday, August 22, 2014, at the youthful age of 81 years in Casa Grande at Banner Casa Grande Medical
Center.
Alfonso was born in Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico, on April 17, 1933, back when the average cost of a gallon of gas was about 10 cents and you could actually buy something with a penny. He was
the middle child to a rancher, Ventura Casta�o, and a midwife, Maria Robles, and, as is
common with many middle siblings, had a mischievous streak he never quite outgrew.
This was evidenced by his recent "stick-out-your-tongue" showdown with a two-year old
while at the dinner table. He is preceded in death by both of his parents as well as his older
sister, Concepcion Leyva, and his younger brother, Ventura Casta�o Robles.
He graduated from the third grade to working the family ranch as was common in that
era. It was quickly discovered that ranching wasn’t his talent as he couldn’t stay on a horse
for very long without falling off, resulting in his father having to tie him to the saddle when
he delivered wheat to the flour mill.
On May 5, 1956, Alfonso married the love of his life, who survives him, Maria Teresa
Catalina Martinez Casta�o. He discovered it was customary in her family for parents,
grandparents and godparents to each contribute a name at birth. He promptly decided
he’d call her "Tere" for short. She spent the next 58 years of marriage to him trying to make
him behave. No one knows for sure how successful she was.
Soon after, Alfonso found his talent in auto mechanics when he began to work for
the local Chevrolet dealer. He became a master mechanic and spent the rest of his life
tinkering with cars and old trucks and at one point, even built a tractor out of spare parts
for his father’s ranch to replace the horse he could never successfully ride. The evolution
of auto technology never ceased to amaze him as in his life span he saw cars change from
ignition by turning a crank to that of the mere push of a button.
His passion for restoring old cars, storytelling, food and music was surpassed only by
what he referred to as his greatest accomplishment in life, his two sons who also survive
him, Luis Enrique Casta�o and Oscar Rene Casta�o. He is also survived by his daughtersin-
law, Sandra Luz Casta�o and Maria Carmen Casta�o whom he loved and cherished as
his own daughters. He passed his love of old cars, old stories, tasty food, great music and
that mischievous streak to his grandchildren who survive him, Edgardo "Ed" Casta�o and
spouse, Linda; Jacinto "Jason" Casta�o and spouse, Angela; Joanna Casta�o and spouse,
Adam Rangel; and Andres "Andy" Casta�o. In 81 years of living, he was blessed to enjoy
and be survived by four great-grandchildren, Cristina Casta�o, Victoria Casta�o, Adalee
Rangel and Addison Rangel all of whom he did his best to teach the best way to stick out
their tongues at their parents.
Alfonso appreciated the value of family and faith. He firmly instilled in his children the importance of living an honorable life, hard work and dedication to God and country. His belief in a good family life was so important that he adopted several nieces and nephews who were orphaned in order to provide them with a loving home and a good education. Most of them went on to achieve degrees at the university in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
Although Alfonso preferred a mechanic’s uniform, he will be wearing his favorite suit for
visitation on Thursday, August 28, 2014, from 6 to 8 PM at J. Warren Cole & Maud The
Gardens Chapel located at 525 N. Peart Road in Casa Grande, Arizona. Family and friends
are welcome.
Funeral services will take place on Friday, August 29, 2014, starting at 10 AM at the same
location with a funeral procession following at 11 AM to Casa Grande Mountain View
Cemetery. Fellow classic car enthusiasts are more than welcome to join the procession.