Thurman Mckinley Casteel

Thurman McKinley Casteel, 86, passed away on April 6, 2020. He was born on February 19, 1934, to Mitchell McKinley Casteel and Carrie Gertrude Herald in Lafayette, Tennessee.

He moved to Indianapolis in 1953, where he met and married the love of his life Nancy Gwendolyn Griffin. They celebrated their sixty fourth anniversary on January 31^st of this year. He started as a truck driver for Allied Van lines through York-Shank Moving and Storage, where he was later the warehouse manager. After their closing he joined Guardian Moving and Storage until his retirement in 1999.

He was a Master Mason of the Blue Lodge first joining Pentalpha Lodge Number 564 in 1961, in Indianapolis. He was also a 32^nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine since 1969. He was a board member of Teamsters Local 193 in the early 1980’s.

Thurman was incredibly mechanically inclined. He was always busy fixing or repairing something. There wasn’t anything he could not fix. He enjoyed his garden and looked forward to spring every year. He couldn’t wait to plant, particularly tomatoes. He adored all babies and animals, and they adored him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Roy Douglas Casteel, sisters Claire and Norma Gail Casteel, and Sandra Elkins.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, son Jeffrey McKinley Casteel (Nancy), daughters Vicki Lynn Casteel, Terry Gwen Casteel, and son Jason Thurman Casteel; grandsons David Cameron Casteel-Foust, Morgan Tyler Casteel-Foust (Laura), Garhett Mitchell Casteel-Foust, step-grandsons Stephen and Joshua Koch;  great-grandson Cameron Alexander McKinley Foust, great-granddaughter Olivia Crea Casteel, and step-great-granddaughter Aurora Kennedy. Sisters Opal Graves, Mary Phillips, and Ada Smalling, brother-in-law Clayton Taylor, and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families whom he truly adored.

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, a small family service will be held, and hopefully live-streamed for the family members unable to attend.