Dr. Ottis L. Castleberry, Preacher of seventy years, Professor Emeritus of California State University, Father and Husband died April 23rd in Jackson, TN. He was 85.
Funeral services for Dr. Ottis L. Castleberry will be held at 2:00 pm, on Sunday, April 29th at North Jackson Church of Christ with David Powell officiating. Burial will follow in a family cemetery in Littleton, West Virginia. Ottis Castleberry was born in McRoberts Kentucky to Mike Shelton Castleberry and Theola Agnes Jenkins. He and two younger brothers, Garrel Eugene and Nile Edsel, were raised in Birmingham, AL.

He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, June Kathleen Powers Castleberry: three sons, John Stephen and wife Marcie, Paul Vance, Mark Alan and wife Lisa, a daughter Rebecca Stone and husband Darrell and daughter-in-law Diana L. Castleberry. Seven grandchildren-Timothy, Heather, and Megan Castleberry; children of the late Dr. O. Timothy Castleberry and wife Diana. Hannah and Martha Stone; the children of Rebecca and Darrell Stone. Luke and Brenna Castleberry; the children of Mark and Lisa Castleberry.One great-grandson, Noah, the son of Heather and Chris Barman.. Nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of dear friends, neighbors and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ottis Castleberry had early in his life decided to become a preacher. He was baptized at the age of fourteen soon after gave his first sermon. In 1941 Ottis graduated from Freed-Hardeman College with a degree in Bible. After he graduated from FHC he began preaching in Pennsylvania. He enrolled in Penn State where he majored in speech and minored in Philosophy. He was also on the National Championship Penn State MenÍs Debate Squad. In addition to his college work, he preached regularly in the State College, PA Church of Christ. He moved to California to earn a MasterÍs degree at the University of Southern California and preached at Tehachapi, CA. During this time he married June and return to Penn State University to finish his PhD in Speech Communications. He also returned to preaching at the State College, PA Church of Christ. There he also taught Speech at Penn State and coached debate where his team won the National Championship. When he finished his work there, they moved to Hamilton, New York, where he taught Speech at Colgate University,. He then took a position at California State University to coach there debate team and teach where he served for thirty four years. At this time he preached and taught at many congregations in Southern California the last being at the Venice Church of Christ where he served both as an elder and a minister.

During his lifetime, Dr. Castleberry received accolades and honors for both professional and personal accomplishments but he valued his opportunities to serve God and the LordÍs church, his family and his community above all others. In 1991, he retired Professor Emeritus from the university but kept close ties with the university. He was chosen to be president of the Emeritus Society for three years. He remained a member of the PresidentÍs ScholarÍs Program. He was often recognized professionally for his abilities serving as editor of professional papers; serving as the California representative of AAUP for two terms; State Parliamentarian; Parliamentarian for the California American Medical Association.

Dr. Castleberry was the first preacher and instrumental in beginning congregations in Raleigh, NC; East 80th Manhattan, NY; and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He authored two books, 'They Heard Him Gladly' and 'He Looked For A City', about the lives of two outstanding gospel preachers, Benjamin Franklin and John T. Lewis. He used his skills to teach and encourage everyone around him to learn more about the Bible and accept its Truth. He never stopped studying GodÍs Word.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Garrel and Nile Castleberry and his son, Dr. Timothy Castleberry.

An Honest Man, A True Friend, A Christian.

Dr. Ottis L. Castleberry, Preacher of seventy years, Professor Emeritus of California State University, Father and Husband died April 23rd in Jackson, TN. He was 85.
Funeral services for Dr. Ottis L. Castleberry will be held at 2:00 pm, on Sunday, April 29th at North Jackson Church of Christ with David Powell officiating. Burial will follow in a family cemetery in Littleton, West Virginia. Ottis Castleberry was born in McRoberts Kentucky to Mike Shelton Castleberry and Theola Agnes Jenkins. He and two younger brothers, Garrel Eugene and Nile Edsel, were raised in Birmingham, AL.

He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, June Kathleen Powers Castleberry: three sons, John Stephen and wife Marcie, Paul Vance, Mark Alan and wife Lisa, a daughter Rebecca Stone and husband Darrell and daughter-in-law Diana L. Castleberry. Seven grandchildren-Timothy, Heather, and Megan Castleberry; children of the late Dr. O. Timothy Castleberry and wife Diana. Hannah and Martha Stone; the children of Rebecca and Darrell Stone. Luke and Brenna Castleberry; the children of Mark and Lisa Castleberry.One great-grandson, Noah, the son of Heather and Chris Barman.. Nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of dear friends, neighbors and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ottis Castleberry had early in his life decided to become a preacher. He was baptized at the age of fourteen soon after gave his first sermon. In 1941 Ottis graduated from Freed-Hardeman College with a degree in Bible. After he graduated from FHC he began preaching in Pennsylvania. He enrolled in Penn State where he majored in speech and minored in Philosophy. He was also on the National Championship Penn State MenÍs Debate Squad. In addition to his college work, he preached regularly in the State College, PA Church of Christ. He moved to California to earn a MasterÍs degree at the University of Southern California and preached at Tehachapi, CA. During this time he married June and return to Penn State University to finish his PhD in Speech Communications. He also returned to preaching at the State College, PA Church of Christ. There he also taught Speech at Penn State and coached debate where his team won the National Championship. When he finished his work there, they moved to Hamilton, New York, where he taught Speech at Colgate University,. He then took a position at California State University to coach there debate team and teach where he served for thirty four years. At this time he preached and taught at many congregations in Southern California the last being at the Venice Church of Christ where he served both as an elder and a minister.

During his lifetime, Dr. Castleberry received accolades and honors for both professional and personal accomplishments but he valued his opportunities to serve God and the LordÍs church, his family and his community above all others. In 1991, he retired Professor Emeritus from the university but kept close ties with the university. He was chosen to be president of the Emeritus Society for three years. He remained a member of the PresidentÍs ScholarÍs Program. He was often recognized professionally for his abilities serving as editor of professional papers; serving as the California representative of AAUP for two terms; State Parliamentarian; Parliamentarian for the California American Medical Association.

Dr. Castleberry was the first preacher and instrumental in beginning congregations in Raleigh, NC; East 80th Manhattan, NY; and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He authored two books, 'They Heard Him Gladly' and 'He Looked For A City', about the lives of two outstanding gospel preachers, Benjamin Franklin and John T. Lewis. He used his skills to teach and encourage everyone around him to learn more about the Bible and accept its Truth. He never stopped studying GodÍs Word.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Garrel and Nile Castleberry and his son, Dr. Timothy Castleberry.

An Honest Man, A True Friend, A Christian.