Merle Franklin Castle

1931-2014

Oceanside, CA—

Merle was born on March 24, 1931 to John and Ethyl Castle in Parson Creek, Missouri. He was the seventh of eight children, baby brother with four big sisters. He died on December 9, 2014 at home in Oceanside, CA after battling congestive heart failure and COPD for several years.

Merle met his life long partner, Patty Carnall, during high school in Billings, MT. They shared many adventures and misadventures atop Merle’s Indian motorcycle before Merle joined the Marines and left for training. It didn’t take long for them to decide that wasn’t working and they were married in Memphis, TN in1951. The Marine Corps moved them to Camp Pendleton in Oceanside California, a place they would return much later. As a helicopter mechanic, Merle made it as far as Japan during the Korean War, but was mercifully saved from actual combat by an abrupt cessation of hostilities.

After completing his military service in 1956, Merle and Pat moved to Ogden, Utah where Merle attended Weber College on the VA Bill. They moved to Salt Lake City in 1958. The next thirty years were devoted to raising children, making friends and sharing adventures. Life long friendships were forged in their old neighborhood, referred to by locals as “Devil’s Corner”. In 1987 Merle retired from a career working as a nozzle design engineer at Hercules Aerospace. A little known fact about Merle is that he was president of the Rocketeers, a square dance club he and Pat belonged to for many years. They danced weekly at club get-togethers and even traveled to square dance conventions! He also joined the Hercules Flying Club and learned to fly.

In 1988 Merle and Pat fled the cold Utah winters, settling back in sunny Oceanside, California. Merle took advantage of being close to the ocean, gave up flying and learned to sail, a past time he found exciting, adventurous and rewarding. Some of his newfound free time was also spent working part-time in security at San Onofre nuclear power plant, delivering herbs for a local grower (which he affectionately referred to as “weeds”) and volunteering in visitor services at Tri-City Hospital, driving the golf carts in the parking lot. Merle spent many hours working out at pulmonary rehab at Tri-City. He made many friends there with shared experiences and they often met for dinner on Friday’s at Rosarita Café.

Merle is survived by Pat, his wife and partner in adventure for 65 years, and by their daughters, Doree and Larry Ann (Russell Fericks). Their son, John, preceded Merle in death in 2012. Merle has six grand children: Bradley (Andrea), Bryan (Ashlie), Jefferson, Jaime (Mike Schwartz), Patrick and Bree Ann; 7 great-grand children; and one grand dog, Jackson. Merle was an ardent cheerleader for the accomplishments and goals of his kids and grandkids. All of them provided great joy and support in return, especially in these last few years.

Merle’s ashes will be inurned at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, CA on January 9, 2015 at 1:00 pm. An open house will follow at their home in Oceanside. Anyone wishing to share stories and memories of Merle is invited to join us at either place or both.

Merle was a supporter of the VFW and many other Veteran’s support organizations. We suggest donations be made to your favorite one in lieu of flowers.