Billy W. “Bill” Castleberry, age 79, of Joplin, Mo., passed away on Saturday August 29, 2015, at his home, following a courageous battle with cancer. His family knew that he waited for “the guy on the Harley” to come pick him up and take him to heaven.
Billy was born on December 9, 1935 in Autauga County, Al., the son of the late James Ernest and Imma Dean (Ellington) Castleberry. He was in the United States Army from 1953-1973, serving in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant. After retiring, he graduated from Arkansas Tech with a BS in Psychology and received a Master’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas. Billy then worked as a Mental Health Counselor in Arkansas and Oklahoma and retired from that to do home repairs and woodwork. He eventually retired for the last time and founded the Wheel-Around Squares square and round (ballroom) dance club, along with his wife, Mary, whom he met while square dancing. He had been a long-time, avid dancer, and the two of them were very active dancing and teaching throughout the local area and even nationally. He was a faithful Christian all of his life, and recently became a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, which he had consistently attended with his wife.
Billy married Mary Conrad on October 17, 1992, and she survives. Additional survivors include: two sons, Larry Castleberry and wife Regina, Dallas, Tx., Robert Castleberry and wife Kylie, Sydney, Australia; one daughter, Patricia Carter, Hot Springs, Ar.; two step-children, Richard Baldwin, Toronto, Canada, and Rebecca Hamlin and husband Jason, Webb City, Mo.; one sister, Sue Richardson, Thibodaux, La.; and several half-brothers; eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Genine.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Reverend Justin Monaghan will officiate. Military Honors will be conducted following the service and will be conducted by the Missouri National Guard Military Honors Team. Billy will then be taken for cremation following services.
A prayer service followed by a visitation will be 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mason-Woodard Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be given to the Wounded Warriors Project in care of the mortuary. Billy’s cremains will be interred with a private ceremony at the Military Cemetery in Springfield, Mo.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

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