Obituary - Domingo Castillo

Domingo H. Castillo was born on September 26, 1931 in Eagle Lake, Texas. Because of his trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, he entered Heaven on November 16, AD 2022.  He was preceded in death by his loving wife Rose Castillo (AD 1933-2022), grandson Michael Gutierrez, parents Baudelio and Manuela Castillo, brothers Julian, Juan and Luis Castillo, and sisters Anita Contreras and Fidencia Morales. 

Domingo was a devoted husband and father to his four children. It was through his wife that he came to saving faith in Jesus, and together they loved and served the Lord, their family and community. 

In 1955, Domingo attended a church revival that changed the course of his life and family tree. It was there that he decided to follow Jesus in faith. Shortly thereafter, he was baptized and then preached the first of many sermons.

The Word of God was his most cherished possession. He daily read his Bible and lived out of it, studying every word and putting into practice all that he knew to be true of the Lord. His teaching was centered around the letters of his Father as “la escritura dice”.

Domingo not only served his church family spiritually but also physically as he worked on the construction team to build the church in Crosby where he pastored for many years.  

As a bivocational pastor, he held jobs in the community, most notably in hospital maintenance, fulfilling his calling to share the gospel not only in the church, but to those whom he interacted with in his day-to-day mission field.

Until his last day, Domingo shared his love of Jesus with anyone he could. His life’s mission was the Father’s will — that everyone would believe in the Lord and be saved. 

He is survived by his children, Rebecca Contreras (Tony) of Mont Belvieu, TX, Micaela Gutierrez (Eloy) of Eagle Lake, TX, Domingo Castillo, Jr. (LaDonna) of Lawton, OK, Delia Teague (Terry) of Huntersville, NC. He also had 8 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.

He is also survived by his brother Ignacio Castillo (Eloisa) from Eagle Lake, Texas, numerous nieces and nephews. Lastly, he is survived by his beloved family in faith Bernalda Aguilar, Mireya Soto, Yadira Moctezuma, Emanuel Jaimez, Yobani Jaimez and Mayra Whitworth.

Visitation will begin at 5 pm at Eagle Lake Funeral Home on Friday, November 18, 2022. Funeral service will be at 10:00 am Saturday at First Baptist Church in Eagle Lake with burial to follow at Nativity Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Eloy Gutierrez, Allen Morales, Daniel Contreras, Yobani Jaimez, Ryan Gutierrez, Jacob Patterson

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The Funeral Service was led by:  Rev. Ruben Mesa, Randi Freeman, Rev. Rogelio Rodriguez.  Music: Old Rugged Cross, What a Day That Will Be, Rondalla “Choir of Guitars,” and others.   One song said, “You know nothing, until you know the love of God.”

From the San Jacinto Baptist Association, Baytown, TX:

“We have received word that Domingo Castillo, former pastor of Iglesia Bautista Comunidad in Crosby, has gone to be with the Lord. Domingo also led the Spanish speaking service at Northside Baptist Church in Highlands from 2016-2020.”

I attended the funeral service of Domingo Castillo on November 19, 2022 at First Baptist Church, Eagle Lake, TX.  I also attended the funeral of Rose Castillo on April 6, 2022, also at First Baptist Church, Eagle Lake, TX. 

Domingo and Rose were members of the church I pastored, Northside Baptist Church, Highlands, TX from about 2016 to 2020.  They were both a great asset to me and the church.  They were the kind of pastor and pastor’s wife I looked up to and admired.  We spent many times in good fellowship.  We joked and laughed a lot.  Sometimes a retired pastor can be a problem to a pastor and church.  This was never the case with Domingo and Rose.  It was easy to depend on them, and trust them.  During that time Domingo began teaching a Sunday School Class and Sunday morning Worship service in Spanish.  I went to a LifeWay store and found some good Christian Spanish books he used.  Domingo especially liked the books by Dr. Daniel Sanchez of SWBTS and a parallel NKJV/Spanish Bible.  He also had much of the material he used. 

Domingo also did some much needed carpenter work at Northside. 

I tried to get Domingo to preach in our regular Worship Services.  But he said he was not comfortable preaching in English.  He spoke good English as well as Spanish.  I would call on him to lead in prayer in church, and enjoyed hearing him pray in Spanish. 

Rose told me of sitting under a tree, then, for some reason getting up and walking a few steps.  Just then a large branch of the tree fell right where she had been sitting. 

Domingo told me of several times when the Lord had really spoken to him in dreams.  Of course, he never strayed from his confidence in the inerrancy of the Bible, God’s Word.  And these dreams never in any way contradicted God’s Word. 

In short, Domingo and Rose impressed me as a great example of what a pastor and wife ought to be. 

 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.  -Jesus; John 5:24  NKJV

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.  -2 Corinthians 5:8

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”  -Revelation 14:13

-David R. Brumbelow, gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com, December 2, AD 2022. 

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