Valmori "Val" Castillo

Stream service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgl-hZx4abM

Bethesda, MD - Valmori "Val" Mortera Castillo, age 65, of Ijamsville, MD, died February 3rd at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  Mr. Castillo is survived by his wife, Ruth Adamos Castillo and children, Hannah C. Starnes and Joshua A. Castillo. He also leaves behind son-in-law, David Starnes, daughter-in-law, Danielle Deutsch, and four grandchildren: Gregory Michael and Grace Selah Starnes and Noah Chase and Malia Claire Castillo. He is also survived by three sisters: Tessie Krintz of Germantown, MD, Venus Sutherland of Beaver, UT, and Brenda Peters of Las Vegas, NV, and three brothers: Rex and Glen of Las Vegas, NV and Ernie from Fremont, CA. He was born in Olongapo City, Philippines and the first child of eight children to Raymundo Castillo and Zenaida Mortera, both also from Olongapo City and deceased.

Val made history among the early Navy recruits from Subic Bay, Philippines to achieve the rank of Navy Captain in the Medical Service Corps. His naval career began in 1977 as a Seaman Recruit and then, attained the enlisted rank of Hospitalman First Class (E-6) before he was commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the Medical Service Corps in 1986. As a Lieutenant in 1991, he was afforded the opportunity to serve at U.S. Naval Hospital Subic Bay assisting in the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption disaster, where his expertise in medical planning took off. From there, he rose in leadership positions in directing disaster operations from Hurricanes Andrew to Katrina as well as for various emergency operations handling the response and recovery of communities affected by calamities as assigned abroad and in the Philippines such as the successful repatriation of the Burnham hostages and led medical support for both Operation Enduring Freedom and the Muslim indigents in Basilan Island following the departure of the U.S. Joint Task Forces. His last command was at the Marine Forces Reserves Command in New Orleans, LA as head of Health Support Services and the Senior Medical Planner for Marine Forces North.

Val retired in 2009 as an executive medical planner with 32 years of honorable service to the Navy with distinction as a credentialed medical administrator and a member of the American College of Contingency Planners. He received the Defense Meritorious Service medal, the Navy Meritorious Service medal, two Joint Service Commendation and Achievement medals respectively, four Navy Commendation Medals, and both Army and Navy Achievement medals.  He earned his Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University. He also completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Administration from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the University of the East in the Philippines. He graduated from Olongapo City National High School in the Philippines.  As Val dearly loved his family and his duties as a Naval Officer, he also was a man of deep faith devoted to creating time to hold bible study sessions since his college days and wherever he was stationed. As a self-described “lifelong learner,” and in his last years on earth, he earned his Master of Arts degree in Christian Spirituality and Formation from Regent University School of Divinity.

He remained humble as a mentor and was a spiritual adviser to many who sought his guidance in prayer and God's word. Val had a knack for making people laugh especially during challenging times while persistent in his quiet will to help others succeed.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Cornerstone Fellowship Church, 66 Waverley Drive Frederick, MD 21702 on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 2:00pm.

Interment Private.

For those who would like to send their condolences, please feel free to post your messages at StaufferFuneral Home's site, staufferfuneralhome.com.