Ruben Castro

Ruben Castro, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and servant of the Lord, has been called home to his Lord and Savior. He passed away peacefully at his home in Moorpark on December 2, 2009. He was 80. Ruben was born on August 18, 1929, in La Verne, California, to Juana and Jose Castro. The Castro family moved to Moorpark just after Ruben was born. At an early age, Ruben began to learn the lessons of service to God and community that became the example of his life. As a boy, Ruben worked with his father and grandfather in the family store on High Street. Ruben played football for Moorpark Memorial Union High School where he graduated in 1948. Ruben was married to his high school sweetheart Dolores Arenas in 1950. A veteran of the Korean War, Ruben enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1949 and served until 1953 when he returned home to run the store for the family. Castro’s Market was originally known as La Mas Barata, which literally translates to English as The Cheapest. But to the Latino community, La Mas Barata meant not only The Best Prices, but a place where anyone could receive what every customer yearns for: respect -- and credit -- if necessary. Ruben became a leader in Moorpark as a local businessman who would speak publicly on behalf of the Latino community. Ruben was the first Latino to join the Rotary Club and eventually became the club’s treasurer. He was the first Latino to serve on the Moorpark Unified School District Board, where he served as president. Ruben attracted national attention as part of a team that successfully mediated a labor dispute between workers at Egg City and the owners of the egg farm, one of the largest egg producers in the country at the time. In 1966, Ruben was appointed by Gov. Pat Brown to serve on the 31st District Agriculture Association (also known as the Ventura County Fair Board). Gov. Ronald Reagan recognized Ruben’s efforts and extended his appointment in 1970. In 2005, he retired as the Executive Director of the Catholic Charities which included among its many services the Moorpark Food Pantry. He served the people of Moorpark at Catholic Charities for more than 20 years. Ruben was among a select group of Moorpark Holy Cross parishioners who were honored by Pope John Paul II for their service and dedication to the church. Ruben’s many years of service to the community was recognized by the city of Moorpark in 2007, when it named a 25,000-square foot multi-service center in his honor. Sadly, Ruben was unable to see the completion of the Ruben Castro Human Resources Center, but he was comforted that the city was taking steps to provide for the less fortunate of the community. Ruben was preceded in death by his parents, and sister Emily Salinas. In addition to his beloved wife, Dolores Castro, Ruben is survived by his son, Steven Castro (Pam); daughter, Theresa Castro; daughter, Patricia Aguirre (Armando); daughter, Maria Irene Arambula (Salvador); son, William Castro (Rachel); and daughter, Liza Castro (Henry). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Antonio Castro (Lisandra); Alejandro Castro, Ana-Alicia Castro, Sonia Arambula, Guillermo Arambula, Andres Arambula, Dominique Arambula, Yvette Villanueva, Ruben V. Castro, Steven Castro, Micaela Castro, Veronica Castro, and Trinity Vasquez-Castro. Ruben is also survived by his great-grandchildren: Dominic Castro, Nicholas Castro, William Carl Nava, and Anthony Castro. He is also survived by his aunts, Cuca Villanueva, Jesse Sanchez, and Maria DeJesus Sanchez and their families; sisters-in law, Mercedes Sandoval, Rosario Luevano, Josephine Arenas, Lupe Sanchez, and Irene Carranza; and nephews, Eddie Salinas, Robert Salinas and Rick Salinas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Catholic Charities-Moorpark.