2019
Ruben Abraham Castaneda from San Antonio, Texas, born on February 12, 1957 at Robert B. Green hospital passed away peacefully in his sleep at his family home on October 15, 2019 at the age of 62. He is survived by his one and only daughter, Rachel Elizabeth Castaneda and ex-wife and beloved friend, Mary Castaneda. Ruben was married to Mary Castaneda for twenty-two years and though they parted ways on their marriage they remained very good friends and supported each other and their daughter until his passing. He is also survived by his sister, Sylvia Villasenior, her husband, Carlos Villasenior and two sons Roger and Omar Villasenior and their families, Tommie Huantes and family, MT, Peter Michael, Adriana Villarreal and their families, Janie, Lindsay, Ryan Garcia and their families, Mary Ann Salas and family, Marie Theresa Talerico and family, Glory Salas and family, Laura Ramirez and family, Rosemary Munoz and Angelica Villarreal and their families, Pamela Ware, Debbie Ware, Rebecca and Mike Yarbrough, Janet, Mel Bennett and family, Jeanne Ware and family. He is predeceased by his sister, Annie Talerico, and two brothers Pete Villarreal, Jesse Garcia and brother-in-law, Frank Talerico. Ruben attended Blessed Sacrament Academy in his young childhood (kinder-5th grade), St. Cecilia’s Catholic School (6-10th grade) and attended and graduated from Wheatley High School all of which were from the roots of his childhood on the southside of San Antonio. He also attended San Antonio College for a couple of years studying Music, Music Theory and the history of Music. While attending those schools, he made many great friends who remain his childhood friends. Music was Ruben’s first love. Ruben shared this story many times with Mary and others… When he was six years old, attending Blessed Sacrament Academy, he was caught by a Nun during lunch and recess break, playing piano. He was playing the Looney-Tunes cartoon theme by ear. The Nun was taken aback and asked if he was taking piano lessons and had learned that song. Ruben’s response was, “No, I watch cartoons on Saturday morning’s and know it by ear.” The Nun called his parents and encouraged piano lessons so his father, Mando, purchased a grand upright piano and that’s where he began following his God given talent of music. As one childhood friend said learning of his passing, Henry Botello, “A huge loss, a musical genius, a true brother…”. Another friend, Eric Pinson, said “He was a great man and a great musician. He was like an older brother to me…” Ruben started gigging when he was thirteen years old with childhood musician friends like Marco Botello and Bill Guyer. He was in several bands along the years like Max and the Casanovas, Razz and the most famous one, Myth which made number one band in San Antonio in Battle of the Bands as well as attending South by Southwest competition in Austin, and opening for Georgia Satellites in Las Semana. In his later years, Ruben grew his private music lesson and instrument repair business with a family of students and their parents that were more than clients to him, they were family. Ruben was raised Catholic in his younger years and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior growing up. In the last ten years, he and his family (Mary, Rachel and Mary’s sister, Pam) have attended Thousand Oaks Christian Church where he and his daughter were baptized together on March 7, 2010. Soon thereafter, when the piano player had to step down for family reasons, Ruben took on the service of worship and lead the team with amazing vigor! The hymns came alive as he played the piano! Sunday became Ruben’s favorite day of the week because of the love he received when he played those hymns with God’s blessing! Ruben will be missed very much but we all know he is leading the most amazing worship team in heaven now and we can find peace in that. His Celebration of Life (Memorial Service) will be held at: Central Christian Church 720 N. Main Street San Antonio, Texas 78205 Map (Parking is free; see the website for parking details www.cccsa.org/ Sunday November 17th from 2:00-3:30pm In lieu of flowers, please send donation gifts to the family for financial hardship to: Mary Castaneda 108 Paradise Path Boerne, Texas 78006 210-602-1836
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ruben Abraham Castaneda 02121957 – 10152019 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Mesquite, state: Texas