Dannie Dwight Castleman

Dannie Dwight Castleman died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, at Kaiser Hospital in San Jose, Calif. He was born Dec. 4, 1944, at Blytheville to Carl and Ora Lee Caery Castleman of Manila.

Dan enjoyed his school years, sports, and his church work. He lettered in football at Dermott, Ark., Junior High School and lettered three years in Barton High School football at Barton, Ark. Dan was center on the Barton team that won two State Championships. In his junior and senior years, he was the third highest scorer on the basketball team. He played baseball for the Cupertino Little League where he made the All Star Team. While he was at Barton, he played for the Helena, Ark., Pony League.

Dan graduated from Barton High School with the Class of 1962. He graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1966. He served as a student minister at Lone Oak Church, DeQueen, Ark., and at Crossett, Ark.

Dan began his seminary at Golden Gate in 1967; he then moved to Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Tex., where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Religion and Philosophy. He ministered in churches at Weatherford and Bridgeport, Tex. While he was living in San Jose, Calif., he served as a senior pastor on the staff of Temple Baptist Church.

Dan was preceded in death by his father, Carl Castleman and his sister, Rebecca Lanette Milligan; his grandparents, W.W. and Opal Caery and Elmer and Inez Castleman.

He is survived by his mother, Ora Lee Castleman; his wife, Shirley Castleman; his stepdaughter, Dianna and her husband Tom Kessler; two stepgrandsons, Jacob and Zachary; two nieces, Barbara and Amanda; and his brother-in-law Mike Milligan.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at the First Baptist Church of Cupertino with Rev. Todd Burgett and Rev. Robin Davies officiating. The special music, "How Great Thou Art" was given by Susan Boyle. Burial was in Los Gatos Memorial Park Cemetery in San Jose, Calif.

Serving as pallbearers were Cole Barber, Michael Barker, Glenn Castleman, Dan Cater, Thomas Feucht, Tom Kessler, Rick Orlandi, John Van Wyk, Caery Vriend, and Chad Vriend.