RET. LT. COL. DURWARD FRANKLIN SILAS

Retired Lt. Col. Durward Franklin Silas, age 89, formerly of Donalsonville, GA passed away Tuesday morning, October 28, 2014 at the Alabama State Veterans Home in Pell City, Alabama. The son of the late Frank Silas and Ruby Tipton Silas, he was born May 30, 1925 in Bainbridge, Georgia. He was married 57 years to Vivian Lynn Silas who preceded him in death in 2001. He retired from the military in 1972 after 30 years of service to our country which included serving on the USS Indianapolis in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. After his retirement at McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida he and his wife resided on Lake Seminole for 32 years where he was a member of the Spring Creek Baptist Church. Col. Silas also owned and operated Lakeview Marina and Restaurant on Lake Seminole from 1987 to 1998. Funeral services for Col Silas will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the Chapel of Evans-Skipper Funeral Home in Donalsonville, GA with Rev. Mike Heath officiating. Interment will follow in Spring Creek Baptist Church Cemetery with full military honors and the military honor guard serving as active pallbearers. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Ashley Register, Jack Tillman, and Keith Robinson, Sr. will serve as honorary pallbearers. He leaves to cherish his memory, two daughters, Terry Barbella of Trussville, Alabama and Patty Hall of Albany, GA; one brother, Dr. L.W. Silas of St. Petersburg, FL; ten grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Durward was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Silas and Ruby Tipton Silas Winters; a son, Jack Lynn Silas of Donalsonville, GA; two great granddaughters, Lacie Elizabeth Cash of Albany, GA and Magen Elaine Hughes of Ragland, Alabama; as well as a brother, Ray Silas of Virginia Beach, Virginia.