Roy H. Casto, Jr.

Roy H. Casto, Jr., 84, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on January 20. Roy was born in Charleston, WV, on May 16, 1939.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Harold Casto and Elizabeth “Lee” Thomas Casto, and his sister Mary Kathryn Casto Alterman. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years Sharon Trail Casto, three sons Dr. John Casto (Maxine) of Lewisburg, WV, Dr. Glen Casto (Heidi) of Hobe Sound, FL, and Dr. Jefferson Casto (Lourdes) of Lewisburg, WV, and a daughter Dr. Lori Palermo (William) of Centreville, VA; seven grandchildren Dr. Grant Casto, Jackson Casto, David Casto, John Eric Casto, Alexander Casto, Maxwell Casto, Maxine Elizabeth Casto; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Dr. Phillip “Jay” Storm, a very special friend whom he considered another son, and a lifelong friend John T. Poffenbarger whom he considered a brother.

Roy graduated from Dunbar High in 1957 and worked his way through college with a variety of full and part-time jobs. He graduated from Concord College in 1964 with a B.S. in biology, and Northeastern Illinois University in 1970 with an M.S. in biology. He completed additional graduate work at Duke University, DePaul University, and West Virginia University.

Roy taught biology, and anatomy and physiology, and served as biology department chair for many years at Woodrow Wilson High School. He served as president of the Raleigh County Education Association. He also taught anatomy and physiology and chemistry at the St. Francis School of Nursing in Evanston, IL. In addition, his teaching career included being an adjunct instructor at West Virginia Tech and Mountain State University.

Roy was a licensed real estate broker and served as president of a real estate investment company founded with a longtime friend, Bennett Hamby.

Roy was a builder, having constructed a good portion of the family home. He loved his horses, dogs, and cats. His interests were broad and varied: gardening, beekeeping, bird watching, piano tuning, kayaking, bicycling, etc. He especially enjoyed saltwater fishing and being with family at Harkers Island, NC.

Special thanks go to Kim and Brian Keatley, and Alex Campbell who have been wonderful and supportive neighbors, and to Staci Issacs and the staff at Hospice without whom we could not have provided Roy the care he needed to be at home.

Visitation will be at Calfee Funeral Home from 1:00 – 3:00 on Friday, January 26. The family will observe a private service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sherman C. and Maxine P. Trail fund at the Beckley Area Foundation, or to Hospice House of Southern West Virginia.