Vernon Bancroft Castle

Vernon Bancroft Castle, known affectionately to his abundant friends and family as VBC, Vern, Vernie, Daddy, Pop, Papa, Grandpa, and Uncle Vernie, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, to Ena and Cyril Castle on July 28, 1940, and grew up in a big household surrounded by aunts, uncles, siblings,and cousins.  A long time New Yorker, and a consummate people person, with a genius for innovation, invention, and mechanical engineering, our dad could drive anything andpassed on his work ethics and those lessons to us. VBC seeded his own big and ever expanding web of lifelong friends and family, and worked for many years as an electrician for the Long Island Railroad (as well as on dozens of other “side” jobs) before he and his wife, our Mom, Norma Patricia relocated to Cumming, Georgia, where his circle of strong and deeply dedicated relations kept expanding…

Our Dad, VBC, loved his people and he was a hard worker.  He had great respect for a job well done (“beautiful!” he’d say, “good show!”) teaching us to do the same.  He was a passionately devoted parent and the most loyal of friends. He was a fair and compassionate man and, though steady in his ways, always interested in learning and trying new things.  He was an avid sportsman, and a wicked domino player, cheering on his boys as they played baseball and basketball in preparation for his “work” as an armchair coach for the Mets, Yankees, Knicks, Braves, Falcons, and Hawks.  As a young man, our Dad could certainly “pop sport” and was a great lover of music, especially his Jamaican rhythms. (As we all know, our Dad was also the greatest of deliberators and the most discerning, researching, and demanding of shoppers.) Most of all our Dad was proud and took great joy in his family and in his home and glowed in gatherings of his family and friends. Oh,and when he laughed the room would really light up.

Our Dad, our hero, VBC, returned to the ancestorsand angels on May 11, 2024, after a brave and courageous battle with ALS. Our Dad is our heart and will always be with us. 

He is survived by his loving wife of fifty five years, Norma Patricia; his sister cousins; Greta and Carmen; his brother and sisters (in law) Trevor, Cherril, Barbara, Roy and Jean; his children and their spouses, “Patti” Gale, Robert and Michele, Trevor and Kim, Lisa, Sean and Kembala, Sharon, Michael and Seble; grandchildren, Mike, Khem, Kyra, Yvonne, Sean, Bethania, Brandon, Ryan, Alex, Myles and Peyton, and a host of dearly beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews. His beloved siblings and our brother David Bancroft are among those welcoming him to heaven.

With infinite love and blessings…

A celebration of life will be held 2 pm Saturday, May 25, 2024, in the chapel of Ingram Funeral Home with Rev. Phil Faulkner officiating. The family will receive friends in the chapel one hour prior to the service at 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm at Ingram Funeral Home, 210 ingram Avenue, Cumming, GA 30040.

The service can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/live/uxdK2YmPTfk?si=sdx4ikG8TGZPjEDW