Joseph Paul Castlen

Joseph Paul Castlen, II, 56, of Castlen's Mountain, Whitesville, KY. died Saturday, December 25, 2004 at his home following a brave fight with cancer. Born in Daviess County, the oldest of 13 children of Joseph Paul and Gertrude Calhoun Castlen, he was a 1966 graduate of Owensboro Catholic High School, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served three tours of duty in Viet Nam, and a member of St. Stephen Cathedral. He retired from Bell South in 2000 and was a member of the Communication Workers of America. He was preceded in death by his father in 2000, his mother-in-law, Edwina Ward in 1994, and his brother-in-law, Scott Ward in 1991. Mr. Castlen loved most being with his wife Nancy anad spending Sundays with his children and grandchildren at Castlen's Mountain.. The traits, which made him uniquely him, were his direct honesty, unspoken generosity, wit, humor, and stubbornness.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Nancy Ward Castlen, a daughter, Candance Castlen Brake and her husband Nick, of Owensboro a son, Chris Castlen and his wife Stacy; of Owensboro; four grandchildren, Anna Caroline Brake, Nicholas Brake, Emily Castlen, and Paige Castlen, all of Owensboro; his mother, Gertrude Castlen of Stanley; seven sisters, Barbara Erpenbeck and her husband Larry of Union, KY, Pat Wuerth and her husband Joe of Lanesville, IN, Betty Whitehouse and her husband Dean of Owensboro, Helen Johnson and her husband Walter of Lexington, KY, Marti Castlen of Owensboro, Connie Cowan and her husband Randy of Lexington, and Jackie Castlen of Owensboro; five brothers, Jim Castlen of Owensboro, John Castlen of Lexington, Mark Castlen and his wife Christine of Owensboro, Charlie Castlen and his wife Lisa of Owensboro, and George Castlen and his wife Maggie of Lexington; four brothers and sisters in law, Larry and Terri Ward of Owensboro, Jill Ward of Whitesville, Denny and Patty Ward of Richmond, VA, and Sue and Tim Theissen of Edgewood, KY; 41 nieces and nephews, and 7 great nieces and nephews.

Services are at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at St. Stephen Cathedral. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday and from noon until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Glenn Funeral Home, where prayers will be said at 7 p.m. Tuesday. A private burial will be in the Ellis Family Cemetery in Whitesville.

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