Dr. Addison Bennett DeCastro

Addison Bennett DeCastro

Funeral services for Addison Bennett DeCastro, 88, were Jan. 3, 1997, at United Methodist Church with burial in the Hay Springs Cemetery. Memorials are to a scholarship fund: Chamberlain-Drabbels Mortuary, P. O. Box 443, Hay Springs, Neb. 69347-0443.

He died Dec. 31, 1996, at the Chadron Memorial Hospital in Chadron, Neb.

He was born near Hat Creek on Jan. 15, 1908, to Frank and Annie DeCastro, the eighth child in a family of 14.

DeCastro attended school in Lusk, and went to the University of Wyoming for one year. In 1932, he graduated from the University of Nebraska, College of Dentistry.

He married May McLain of Lusk, May 29, 1933, and to this union three sons, Earl, Dwyer and Doug, were born.

He opened a dental office in Hay Springs, Neb., July 5, 1933, and practiced dentistry there for 59 years until poor health forced his retirement.

He was active in community and civic affairs. He served as a school board member, cemetery board member, chamber of commerce board member, Lions Club member and Boy Scout Master for Troop #208. He was a member of the Hay Springs United Methodist Church, serving on the church board, was a participating dentist at Pioneer Manor and a life time member of Elks Lodge #1399.

DeCastro dental career led him to be a pioneer in implant dentistry. He gave a program in Miami, Fla., at the National American Dental Association convention in 1962. He was a member of the American Dental Association, the Nebraska Dental Association, the West District Dental Association and the Academy of Implant Surgery. He was elected into the Nebraska Dental Association hall of Fame in 1991.

He loved flying and had a Taylor Craft for several years. He would fly out to the Mirage Flats and land by homes. He took many people for a ride, including children before school. He may have even bribed many young patients to open wide and sit still for an airplane ride! It would be interesting to have counted the number of people that had their first plane ride with Addie or "Dr. De.", as many people knew him. He purchased one of the first Beechcraft Bonanzas in 1947 and flew it until 1992.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Earl.

Survivors include his wife of Hay Springs; sons Dwyer of DeBary, Fla., and Doug and wife Jody of Hay Springs; daughter-in-law Mary Hood and husband David of Morrill, Neb; and brother Charles of Julesburg, Colo.; grandchildren Juli and Michael Goldstein, Vern and Jayne DeCastro, Yvonne and Scott Arner, Sheridan DeCastro, Chad DeCastro, Mike Hood, Kathy and Shane Petersen, and Robyne and Jim Heubner; great-grandchildren Noah, Seth and Kelsey Arner, Tarra and Derek DeCastro, Lindsey, Ben and Gracie Petersen, Abby, Mandy and Jacob Huebner; and many relatives and friends.

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