Edward Joseph Silva

Chief Master Sergeant Edward Joseph (EJ) Silva, of Florence, passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at McLeod Hospice House surrounded by his family. Mr. Silva was born in Somerville, MA, a son of the late Joseph F. Silva and Mary E. Sears.As a member of “Our Greatest Generation”, he was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force having served during WWII and Korea.He retired after twenty-one years of service in the military.He was a member of the 13th Bomb Squad Association, the Air Force Sergeants Association and a life member of the Masonic Lodge #364 in Sumter. Mr. Silva was also the owner of Munn Hardware Supply Company for twenty-seven years.He was an avid golfer and loved to travel. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his siblings. Surviving are his wife of twenty-two years, Elsie H. Silva; his sons, Dennis (Loretta) Steverson and Tracy E. Steverson; his grandson, and the love of his life, Mason Tyler Steverson and his mother, Lisa Steverson, grandchildren, Caleb James Steverson and Bailey Alana Steverson and their mother, Heather Ragan; step-grandchildren, Autumn Jeffords, Morgan Johnson and Brezzi Hill; his sisters-in-law and their husbands, Wanda (John) Dowling, Shelby (Bingo) Lambert, Dorrie (Philip) Ridenour, Judon (Johnny) Shelley, Sherrie (Jim) Puckett, and Lenora Starling, and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, November 21, 2014 at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home. Burial, with Masonic Rites and full Military Honors, will follow at Florence National Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to McLeod Hospice House, P. O. Box 100551, Florence, SC29502 Please sign the tribute wall for Mr. Silva at the obit section of www.stoudenmiredowling.com.