Olivia Castillo

Olivia Tenorio Castillo of Uvalde passed away peacefully on Friday November 13, 2020 due to natural causes.  Olivia was about to enter her tenth decade in Uvalde.  She was born in Carrizo Springs, Texas on September 21, 1931.  Her mother Rosa Tapia Tenorio (originally from Carrizo Springs, Deceased) and her father Enrique M. Tenorio (originally from Eagle Pass, Deceased) raised their children in Uvalde; Oliva and her two sisters, Enriqueta Tenorio Quesada (Deceased) and Delfina Tenorio Perez.  Olivia lived in Uvalde her whole life.  Olivia was dedicated to her family, her faith and Church (Sacred Heart) and the community.  She had a wonderful career working at Central Power and Light regional office starting in the early 1950’s and then worked for Uvalde National Fish Hatchery for approximately 30 years where she retired.  Following retirement, Olivia volunteered with the Uvalde Chili Peppers, the St. Henry De Osso Family project as a tutor to young children and served as an Auxiliary Volunteer at Uvalde Memorial Hospital for 19 years, from 1997 through 2016.

Olivia graduated from Uvalde High School in May of 1949.  During her time in high school she participated in the Pep Squad, Future Homemakers of America, Basketball and was the president of the Pan American Club. Following her high school graduation, Olivia attended Draughon’s Business College in San Antonio and graduated in 1950. In 1952 Olivia married Alberto O. Castillo (Deceased) and raised three boys, Alberto Enrique Castillo (Spouse Linnea Nelson Castillo), Ricardo Arnoldo Castillo (Spouse Coleen M. Kiefer) and Mario Alonso Castillo (Spouse, Diana Marie Castillo).  As she was raising her children, she became a Den Mother, afterwards while her children transitioned into the Boy Scouts, Olivia continued to be a Den Mother to numerous children through 1980.  While Olivia worked at the Fish Hatchery, she coordinated with local groups and conducted tours of the Hatchery.  Olivia took joy in educating young minds.

Olivia had numerous accomplishments.  One of her proudest accomplishment was assisting Father Lyons and other Catholic priests raise money in the 1950’s and 1960’s where the funds were used to build the Church where Sacred Heart now stands.  She recalled knocking on numerous doors raising the money.  Olivia had a strong faith and taught Catechism over the years at Sacred Heart. In the 1970’s Olivia attended SWTJC for continuing education purposes.  During her life, Olivia received numerous awards from various organizations.  In 1967 she was awarded the “The Round-up Award” for her services as a Den Mother.  In 1978 she earned the Concho Valley Council Silver Beaver Award for 14 years of service as a Den Leader for Pack 505, which is given to Cub Scout or Boy Scout Leaders.  In 1979 Olivia won an award “for dedicated and unselfish service in our behalf” from the Young Adult Conservation Corp.  Olivia was a member of the Sacred Heart Church and School PTO: PTO, Secretary for the PTO for 13 years; Treasurer Sacred Heart PTO; Team Captain of Church Building Fund; Team Captain of School Building Fund; Chairman Easter Fund Activity; Member of Sacred Heart School Board, CCD Religion Class Teacher; Finance Bldg. Fund Committee (S. H. Parish Hall), Secretary for Sacred Heart School Board.  In 1988 Sacred Heart School issued Olivia the “Valuable Service Award.”  In 2003 she received the “Outstanding Volunteer Tutor” award for her services at the St Henry de Osso Family Project. Olivia’s last award was given to her by the Uvalde Chili Peppers, an organization supporting the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce.  The award was the Chili Pepper of The Year for 2013.

However, Olivia always told her friends her greatest accomplishments where her three sons, Mario, Richard and Al and her six grandchildren; Mario Alonso Castillo, Jr., Jennifer Marie Tijerina (Spouse Samuel Ray Tijerina) Jacqueline Christina Castillo (Spouse Chad Edward Spitz), Catherine Francesca Lerch (Spouse Cody Michael Lerch).  Samuel Nelson Castillo, Maximillian Vaughn Castillo and two great grandsons, Samuel Ray Tijerina, Jr., and Olivero Abdon Tijerina.

A rosary was held on Thursday November 19, 2020 at the Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary.  A private funeral service was held Friday November 20, 2020.  Pallbearers were; Alejandro Castillo, Mario Castillo Jr., Max Castillo, Sam Castillo, Gerrardo Carrasco and Rodolfo R. Flores, Jr.