Samuel J. Castranova, age 97, of Dallas, Texas, passed away December 28, 2008. Sam was born October 22, 1911, in Trenton, New Jersey, to Guiseppi and Claudia (Lipoma) Castranova. He married Margaret D. Thomas on April 24, 1936 in Trenton, New Jersey. Sam was a civilian employee for over thirty years with the U. S. Army at Ft. Dix and Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. After retirement, Sam resided in Naples, Florida with his wife, Margaret, before moving to Dallas. While in Naples, he was a member of the Elks club and the Italian American Club. Sam was a soft spoken man of great faith who enjoyed fishing, golf, and was a mechanical genius. He is survived by his son, Samuel J. Castranova and his wife Betsy of Frisco, Texas; daughter, Judith M. Capraro and husband Vincent J. of Red Bank, New Jersey; five grandchildren, Lynn Virdin and husband, William, Richard Castranova and wife Dina, Suzanne Capraro and husband Joe Freeman, Joseph Capraro, and Cynthia Capraro; seven great-grandchildren, Traci, Kyle, Linda, Sam, Maggie, Michael, and Maya. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, three brothers, and one sister. A memorial mass will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, January 2, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, Texas, 75023. He will be laid to rest with his wife at Ridgeview Memorial Park at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Sam’s memory.