Jose Salvador Castillo

Jose Salvador Castillo lived a long memorable life consistent with his passion for God, country, and family. A first generation Mexican American Jose was born in El Paso, TX on August 14, 1932. He passed away peacefully on November 23, 2023, in El Paso, TX surrounded by loved ones. He was ninety-one years old.

Despite never having had formal lessons as a youth, music coursed through his veins. Jose played in bands from the age of thirteen in both El Paso, TX, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico; later, he attended the Naval School of Music in Washington DC where he ranked first in his class. With his deep knowledge of musical theory he principally played trumpet, as well as numerous other instruments, and taught scores of others to do the same. Jose composed and directed music for the Marine Corps as Band Master where his career spanned thirty one years from 1947 – 1978. He attained the highest Senior Noncommissioned Officer rank of E-9 Master Gunnery Sergeant and as in Corp tradition was addressed as “Top Castillo”.

After his military career, he returned home to El Paso, TX completing his degree in music education from the University of Texas at El Paso allowing him to continue his passion for teaching music at the junior high and high school level.

Jose was a devout member of the Catholic church, regularly attending service until his health prevented him from doing so.

Jose is survived by his first and only love, his wife of seventy-one years, Rose. He is preceded in death by his eldest daughter, Cynthia, and survived by his sister Hortensia Avila, brother Daniel Robert, sons Robert (Cynthia), David (Ronda), and Michael (Sandra), his daughters Patricia and Suzanne. Jose leaves behind dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4:00pm to 8:00pm with a Rosary at 6:00pm on Monday, December 04, 2023 at Sunset Funeral Homes Northeast, 4631 Hondo Pass Drive.  Funeral Mass will begin at 8:45am on Tuesday, December 05, 2023 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 2709 Alabama Street.  Committal Service to  follow at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson. 

Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes Northeast.  Please visit his online memorial at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.