Obituary: Silva, John, Jr.
John was born in Pueblo, Colorado on November 16, 1930 to parents John Silva and mother Flora (Lucero) Luna but was raised by grandparents David and Belvina Luna, together with his uncles Ben, Richard, and Fred.
John served with distinction starting in the U.S. Army in 1946 and then enlisted with the U.S. Air Force on March 29, 1947.
John retired from the Air Force as a Technical Sgt.
on November 1, 1967.
During this time, John married Peggy Jean Chandler and they had five children: John Silva III (deceased), Richard, Susan, David, and Patricia.
He and Peggy divorced on February 27, 1975.
On March 7, 1975 John married Jeanette (Jan) Ault and they eventually settled in St. Petersburg, FL where John perfected a successful career as a portrait artist specializing in military war hero tribute paintings.
They remained together until Jan’s untimely death in January of 2014.
Likeable, humorous, quick-witted, and always ready to tangle with you if you gave him too much trouble, John was known and beloved by everyone he met…and he will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and associates.
A Memorial Service will be held for John on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 3pm at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 Espanola Road, Medical Lake, WA 99022.
Survived by: Sister Catherine Sandoval and sons Simon Sandoval, Jr., and John Sandoval of Torrance, CA; Sister Angela Barajas, of Torrance, CA; Uncle Richard and Aunt Virginia Luna of Spokane.
John’s Children: Son Richard M. Silva (Michele) of Spokane; Daughter Susan C. Silva (Ed Wood) of Spokane; Son David A. Silva of Spokane; Daughter Patricia Lynn Silva-Walpole of Spokane.
Grandchildren: Angela Blue of Spokane; Alexander Heffelfinger of Auburn, WA; Rachel Silva of Portland, OR; Rebeccah Silva of Portland, OR.
Great-Grand- children: Anastasia Darling, Taylor Darling, and Maricella Darling…and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews all of Spokane.