Carmen Casilla, 81, was patriarch and 'man of his word'

Aug. 10--HESPERIA -- Paul Casilla choked back tears as he shared how his father, Carmen Paul Casilla, took his last breath, slipped out of this world and stepped into eternity.

During a three-week hospital stay, the 81-year-old Air Force veteran from Hesperia was surrounded by his immediate family when he died at 12:46 p.m. on July 18 at Loma Linda University Medical Center, his family told the Daily Press.

"My dad died one day after his birthday. We think he was holding on so he could celebrate one final birthday," said Casilla, 44, a commercial real estate agent who lives in Adelanto. "You know, nothing can prepare you for losing your father."

To describe his father, Casilla used words like responsible, teacher, hard worker, peacemaker and loving disciplinarian, the "patriarch of the family and a man of his word."

While helping his family prepare for his father's celebration of life scheduled for Saturday, Casilla told the Daily Press that part of his healing process since his father died includes spending time with his family, reflection and immersing himself in work.

"I'm a grown man who's been trained to be professional and responsible," Casilla said. "But there are times when I stop, reflect on the memories that surround my father and then cry."

Casilla said he still remembers his father taking the family to Camp Comanche when he was about five years old and spending time camping, fishing and exploring the great outdoors.

The youngest of six siblings, Carmen Casilla was born in Buffalo, New York, to Carmen and Mary Casilla. He was baptized in May 1940 in a Roman Catholic Church.

"In his younger years, my dad enjoyed bowling and golf,' Casilla said. "His father passed away when he was about five years old. Of his siblings, my dad was the last one to survive."

Carmen Casilla joined the Air Force at age 21 and was stationed on the Island of Crete, maintaining communications equipment. During that time, he created the Strategic Air Command logo, his son said.

"Whenever he talked about his military service, he always talked about the beautiful and crystal clear waters of Crete," Casilla said.

On Dec. 16, 1967, Carmen Casilla married Janice Hartman at St. Margaret's Church in Chino. Their children include Paul Casilla of Adelanto, Edmond Casilla of Hesperia and Jenny Casilla- Madsen of Redlands.

"He was a loving father and a great husband, and I could never ask for anyone better," said Janice Casilla, who met her husband in Oct. of 1964 after they were introduced by mutual friends.

"We went on a dinner date with those friends, which extended to bowling and some nice conversation," she said. "After that we began dating and were married three years later."

The elder Casilla worked for California Hardware Company as a salesperson for 46 years, and "outlived the company, which shut down in Ontario about 15 years ago, his son said.

Casilla said the days to come will include remembering his father, and wrestling with various emotions and he joins his family in the grief process.

"My father showed me how to work hard and how to be a provider," Casilla said. "He was the pillar of our family and we miss him dearly."

Reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com, Instagram@renegadereporter, Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

___

(c)2019 Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.

Visit Daily Press, Victorville, Calif. at www.vvdailypress.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.