Dennis Michael Castle

Dennis Michael Castle, late of Milford, Pa., and Deerpark, N.Y., died on Monday, April 6, 2015, at Milford Senior Care in Milford. He was 68.

He was “Mike” to close friends and family and “Dennis” to his colleagues in the antiques profession and fellow corrections officers when he worked at the New York State Otisville Correctional Facility.

Survivors include his daughter, Sarah Virbila of Wakefield, R.I.; son, Zachary, also of Wakefield; two grandchildren, Kaia and Reed; his longtime companion, Toni Marion of Deerpark; brother, Charles Castle and his wife, Regina, of Kingston, N.Y.; sister, Jill Balch and her husband, Tim, of Tafton, Pa.; lifelong friends John Kinney and his wife, Janice, of Montgomery, N.Y., and David McLaughlin and his wife, Sue, of Rochester, N.Y., Michael Kozykowski, and Donna Greene; and former wife, Donna Castle of Wakefield.

He was predeceased by his mother, Jean Pepper of Port Jervis; and his father, Charles Castle, of Milford.

He attended Port Jervis High School, and briefly attended the State University of New York at Albany before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1966.

He trained and served as a Vietnamese interpreter-translator for the Army Security Agency. While in Vietnam he was awarded the Bronze Star for his bravery under fire, as well as other medals.

His profession was as a corrections officer, but his passion was antiques. He was a well-known dealer and collector in the Milford area and beyond, specializing in country antiques. In addition he was a talented cook, conceptual artist and physical fitness devotee.

He retired from the New York State Corrections Department in 2006 and had planned to expand and grow his antiques interests, but the early onset of illness intervened.

Funeral arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home. Interment is planned at Rural Valley Cemetery, Cuddebackville.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of donor’s choice.