Richard Grimes Castle

CASTLE, RICHARD GRIMES (1946 ~ 2022). The following is an obituary for Richard Grimes Castle, spouse of Deborah Van Dormolen, former member of the Texas State Cemetery Committee. The obituary was provided by Broecker Funeral Home of Salado.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Richard Grimes Castle passed away on Thursday, 1 December 2022 at the age of 75.

Rich was born in Rochester, New York to Alfred and Adele Castle on 21 December 1946. He spent his early childhood in Rochester until the family relocated to Dayton, Ohio in 1958. Rich spent his formative years in Dayton establishing many lifelong friendships. He graduated from Oakwood High School in 1964 and attended Ohio University, graduating with a BBA in Business in 1968.

He attended US Army Basic Training in June of 1969 followed by Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia where he was Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry in July of 1970. His first assignment was to Fort Ord California where he served in the 2 nd Advanced Infantry Training Brigade as a training officer. From November 1971 to November 1972 Rich was deployed to Bien Hoa, Vietnam serving with MACV. Following his tour in Vietnam was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas where he would be promoted to the rank of Captain. Although Rich was born in New York and raised in Ohio, his family’s deep ties to the state of Texas made him a Texan at heart and he got here as fast as the Army would allow. He had subsequent tours to Fort Lewis for Company Command, Chattanooga with Recruiting Command, to one of his favorite assignments in Hawaii where he was promoted to Major and served as a Battalion XO for the 1 st Battalion, 21 st Infantry, followed by attendance at the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His next assignment brought him back to Fort Hood in 1985 and a career branch change to Quartermaster. While assigned to the 13 th Corps Support Command (COSCOM) he found the love of his life, then Captain Deborah (Borah) Van Dormolen. Lieutenant Colonel Rich Castle and Major Borah Van Dormolen were married on the 18 th of December 1987.

In 1988, Rich and Borah moved to Germany, where Rich would be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel serving in the Transcom Headquarters in Frankfurt. Rich would finish his Army career on his next and final assignment to Fort Hood, Texas where he would retire on the 31 st of December 1991. Rich and Borah remained in Texas establishing permanent roots in the community of Salado. Rich supported Borah throughout the rest of her career as a Lieutenant Colonel culminating with her assignment as Battalion Commander of the Special Troops Battalion of the 13 th COSCOM Command and retirement in 1997.

During this period, Rich and several partners started the ElectiChef electric grill company which remains in operation to this day. Following Borah’s retirement and entry into the world of Republican politics, Rich continued to provide support for her activities where she ultimately became the Republican Chairwoman for the State of Texas. He and Borah travelled to Alaska, Canada, and Scotland multiple times to pursue their love of fly fishing and had the time of their lives on a 30-day cruise in February 2013 on the Cunard Line from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia.

Rich tragically and unexpectedly lost Borah on the 11 th of March 2013. He continued to thrive with his love of fly fishing, travel, gourmet food, cooking, and sports. He was an avid Cleveland Browns fan and fortunately was able to offset the annual disappointments with his love for Ohio State football. He was a generous and giving person supporting others through college, assisting with college loan debt, assisting with housing needs, and supporting charitable organizations. Rich will be remembered by his family and friends as a loving husband, a man of honor and integrity, a soldier, his love of this country and its freedoms, an outdoorsman, and having a generous heart.

Rich’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1OLC), Army Commendation Medal (3OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1OLC), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal (1BSS), Vietnam Service Medal (3BSS), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbons w/ numeral 2, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/ Palm.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Richard Grimes Castle was preceded in death by his wife Deborah (Borah) Van Dormolen, his parents Alfred Castle and Adele Grimes Castle, and his brother Edward Castle. He is survived by his brother Charles Castle and nieces Jennifer and Sarah Anne.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Richard Grimes Castle will be interred in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas with full Military Honors on the 23 rd of January 2023 at 1000 in the morning.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made as follows:

Hillsdale College
33 E. College
Hillsdale, MI 49242
Attn:  John T. McFarland
Make checks as follows:
Hillsdale College, Borah Van Dormolen Scholarship Fund