Rita Elaine Castro

February 28, 1957 - April 13, 2022

Rita Elaine Castro born on February 28, 1957 in San Antonio, Texas to Felix and Elisa Castro passed on April 13, 2022 at the age of 65 in San Antonio, Texas. She is preceded in death by her parents Felix and Elisa Castro and her half-brother Felix Castro Jr. She is survived by her loving family, sons Andres A. Perez II and David M. Perez, sisters Helen Sanchez and Martha Castro-Casarez and her husband Ruben Casarez, and her half-sister Maria Isabel Castro de Orozco. Rita is also survived by her granddaughter Adrienne M. Perez and nieces Christina Sanchez-Serrano (Juan), Amanda Gamez-Cortinas (Andrew) and nephew Andrew Gamez Jr. (Amanda) and grand-nieces and grand-nephews: Merari Sanchez, Dominic A. Gamez, Dorian A. Gamez, Angelica E. Gamez, Mia M. Gamez, Andrew A. Gamez, and Noah A. Gamez. After graduating from John Jay High School, Rita worked at the Westside Bank for a few years then moved to Corpus Christi to work as a dispatcher for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol - State Troopers. As she continued her higher education she realized her love of learning. Rita received her Bachelors in Business Administration from Our Lady of the Lake University and Masters in Library & Information Science from the University of Texas in Austin. Rita took pride in becoming a Texas Longhorn! Rita began working for Alamo Community Colleges - Southwest Campus in 1977. She was offered a position as a Librarian at Galveston Community College, where she stayed for several years. Rita then returned to Alamo Colleges - Palo Alto where she was a Reference Librarian and eventually retired, after 25 years of service, as an Associate Professor from St. Philip’s College in 2019. Rita loved teaching and instilled the importance of education throughout the family. Rita was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. For many years Rita felt it was her responsibility to do her civic duty therefore she became a dedicated Judge with the Bexar County Elections Department. With her background in Criminal Justice, she became a strong advocate for organizations such as the Texas Inmates Families Association (TIFA) and Family and Incarcerated Together Healing (FAITH), and other advocacy groups to fight for prison reform. She worked together with Texas Department of Criminal Justice Regional Directors and Senior Wardens. During her retirement Rita continued to actively work with individuals and organizations for the betterment of our community.