Robert "Bobby" Castillo

On September 7, 2021, Robert "Bobby" Castillo passed away peacefully in Fort Worth, Texas at the age of 72. Bobby is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Marina Castillo; dearest daughters, Michelle Castillo-Flores, Angela (Hari) Kumar, Alicia Castillo-Flores, and Bobbie de Marina Castillo; precious grandchildren, Oliver and Alexander Kumar; sisters: Ophelia (Vincent) Castillo-Gonzalez and Carmen Montanez; and brother Mauro Castillo; and former spouse and friend, Lourdes Flores. Preceded in death by his parents, Mauro and Aurora Castillo; and brother Armando Castillo.

Born in East Chicago, Indiana, Bobby lived in East Chicago, Indiana until he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967.  During his 12-year career with the Marine Corps, he became a highly decorated Combat Veteran earning a Purple Heart, a Navy Cross and many additional Military honors.  While in the military, Bobby attended Pepperdine University, in California, graduating with a degree in Public Administration.  In 1979, Bobby successfully completed the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Academy in Quantico, Virginia.  His first positions were in San Juan, Chicago, Denver and Mexico City.  In 1985, while being stationed in Mexico City, he was assigned Lead Investigator of Operation Leyenda, the investigation into the kidnapping and murder of Special Agent Enrique Camarena.  In 1990-1992, while Bobby was stationed at DEA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as the International Operations Coordinator, he completed the DEA Ranger Skills Program, in Fort Benning, GA.  Afterwards, he participated in Operation Snowcap, consisting of 90-day deployments in the jungles of Bolivia and Guatemala.  In 1996, Bobby was serving as the Assistant Country Attache in Mexico City when in 1998, he was appointed by the DEA Administrator as a Special Agent in Charge of the newly created El Paso Field Division.  In 1999, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno selected Bobby to be a member of the Senior Executive Service of the United States.  After 34 years of working with the federal government Bobby retired from the DEA in 2002.

Created by the Presidential Executive Order after 9/11, Bobby became an Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Air Marshal Service in 2003-2008, which provided security aboard commercial airline conveyances against acts of terrorism.

Bobby was a true patriot who had a strong love for God, his country, beloved mother, daughters, beautiful grandchildren, and of course his cat Whiskers (whom I recently caught sleeping on top of a bunch of Bobby's shoes).

Goodbye my love, until we meet again.  As Bobby would often say "I did it my way!"

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2021, from 3:00PM – 7:00 PM at Solan Pruzin Funeral Home , 14 Kennedy Ave., Schererville, Indiana. Burial will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, donations to WoundedWarrierProject.org or any military organization of your choice would be appreciated.  Mask and socially distance during visitation is appreciated.