Shawn P. Castro

Shawn. affectionately also known as “Shawnie,” was born in Lorain, Ohio, on 6 May 1968, He was the cherished son of Juan Castro who survives, and the late Mona Tunheim. I

n 1988, Shawn joined the U. S. Navy and was assigned to the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, Calif., serving as a navy aviation boatswains mate/security guard. In his eight year active duty service commitment, he was as-signed to the USS Carl Vin-cin where he earned the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Na-tional Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and both of the Navy Rifle and Pistol Expert Medals.

Following his service to country, Shawn joined the U.S. Army Corps of En-gineers which relocated him to his new home working at the Kinzua Dam. Retiring due to this illness. Shawn’s work at the Kinzua proved to be the platform for his unwavering desire to protect and serve his community as he stepped up once again to serve in theater during Operation Iraqi Freedom for eight months. Upon his safe return, Shawn founded the county’s first local veteran’s hardship fund coined as the Hometown Hero’ s Fund and directed five annual patrioti-cally themed motorcycle events centered around the history of and first public ride over the Kinzua Dam in over a decade, the events pooling more than 500 parti-cipants at times and ulti-mately contributed more than $50,000 to this relief fund. Shawn more recently was deployed to Puerto Rico on several extended tours working tirelessly to restore electricity to the encumbered territory.

Shawn was a brave and loyal seaman, a dedicated philanthropist, a patient and loving father, a compas-sionate husband, as well a celebrated son, brother, and friend. Shawn established himself inarguably ‘small-town-famous’ as he was a well-known jovial spirit with an infectious laugh and highly regarded as a good time all while sport-ing an authentic kilt. His endless supply of Irish cheers, anticipated one- liners and patriotic rants were just the beginning of his ability to brighten any-one’s day and redirect any problem into a team effort making sure no one in his life ever had to feel alone.

He is survived by his wife, Tammy Horner Castro, whom he married in March 2018. Tammy, who cared for Shawn at his strongest and weakest, was his best-friend, and the one woman everyone wished he would find as her kind, en-joyable, supportive, and equally fun-loving demeanor is his perfect match. He is also survived by three chil-dren: Christina (Nick) Boehart of Roseville, Calif., Shelby (Jacob) Jansens of Clarendon, Pa., and Bryson (Emily) Christine Irwin of Exon, Pa.; and two grandchildren: Ryleigh and Haley. Deepest sympathies are shared with his recently departed sister, Bonnie McKissisk, and highest con-dolences to three surviving sisters: Tawnya Warra, An-drea Lockhart and Kelly Castro-Van Meter; two brothers: William Budak and Daniel Castro; and several nieces and nephews.

Shawn’s wish was to be cremated and buried at sea which will be arranged at a later date with the U.S. Navy Mortuary Services Branch as his instructions for Tammy were to not flush him in the toilet, because the ocean is too far away to travel by sewer pipe. A portion of his ashes will be placed and memorialized at the Oakland Cemetery Veteran’s section.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at the Oak-land Cemetery, Section 40, with the Rev. Rick Hamrick, pastor, Youngsville Free Methodist Church, officiat-ing.

The previously planned benefit on Nov. 21, 2020 at the Warren Moose Lodge 109, will now be held as a memorial service. Those wishing to send condolence s may do so by visiting www. petersonblickfuneralhome. com