Garland Castleberry

Friday, June 30, 2023
Garland "Cas" Castleberry

FRONT ROYAL, Va. — Garland P. “Cas” Castleberry, 87, of Front Royal passed away after a lengthy illness on June 25, 2023. In 1936, Cas was born to Dorothy and Paul Castleberry in Morehouse, Missouri. He graduated from Sikeston High School in Missouri where he lettered in football, basketball and track. He was also a champion debater and student body president. After a four-year stint in the Navy, he joined the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller in Memphis, Tennessee. During that time, Cas attended Memphis State University, graduating with honors in less than three years. In 1964, Cas moved to the administrative side of the FAA at its Washington, D.C., headquarters. He spent several years at the Office of Economic Opportunity, where he was named a Congressional Fellow and later worked as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill. He returned to the FAA as its Congressional liaison and then was awarded a Princeton Fellowship to the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs.

That was followed in 1976 by a presidential appointment by President Gerald Ford to represent the United States in the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal, Canada. Other work destinations within the FAA included stops in Anchorage, Alaska, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and culminating with a move to Atlanta, Georgia, as the Regional Director of the Southern Region, the largest in the country. After retiring from the FAA, he worked as a consultant with the Harris Corporation and became president and CEO of the Air Traffic Controllers Association. Cas became an avid golfer in retirement and reached a longtime goal of nailing an unforgettable hole-in-one. Cas had a tremendous passion for his family. He and his wife of 69 years, Phyllis, spent many days traveling to visit kids and grandkids. He particularly enjoyed watching them compete in whatever sport was in season. Cas will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was generous, helpful, and always willing to mentor those who sought his advice.

Cas is survived by his wife, Phyllis, and five children, John Castleberry (Sarah), Patti Hartle, Tod Castleberry, Chris Castleberry (Alex), and Scott Castleberry. Cas also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and stepgrandchildren, Jack Castleberry (Kara), Lindsay Castleberry, Brooke Castleberry, Ashley Sopko (Tommy), Brett Castleberry, Austin Castleberry, Ryan Castleberry, Justin Castleberry, Christina Castleberry, Samuel Golden and Aaron Golden. He is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Amelia Castleberry, Harper Castleberry, Brodie Sopko, Saylor Sopko, Bailey Sopko and Raya Castleberry.

Cas had a private burial at Williamsburg Memorial Park on Thursday, June 29, 2023. There will be a “Celebration of Life” for friends and colleagues to pay their respects later this summer.

Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home in Newport News, Virginia.

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Donations in Cas's memory can be made to: The Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA's Scholarship Fund) at www.atca.org/donate.