Edward P. Silva, 80, Was Veteran of World War II

Edward P. Silva of West Wareham died on Dec. 8 at the Tobey Hospital. He was 80. He was born Dec. 11, 1922 in East Fairhaven, the son of the late Manuel P. and Maria Silva. He attended Fairhaven and New Bedford public schools. Mr. Silva was the husband of the late Alzira "Elsie" (Tremblay) Silva and a former resident of Oak Bluffs.

In the early 1940s, he owned and operated an automobile service station and worked for Morse Twist Drill Company in New Bedford before entering the Armed Forces. Mr. Silva was a WWII Army veteran serving with D Company 357th Infantry Division. He was a recipient of the European-African Middle Eastern campaign medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Bronze Star Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received during the invasion of Normandy in June of 1944.

Mr. Silva owned and operated the Green Line Taxi in Dartmouth in the 1960s and '70s. Later, he worked for several years at the Tobey Hospital and for the town of Tisbury as a maintenance man. He was a member of the Massachusetts chapter, Disabled American Veterans; a former member of the Vineyard Haven American Legion; and the Holy Ghost Association of Oak Bluffs. He loved dancing, furniture making, table pool and was a former member of the Big Blue #1 RV Club.

He is survived by his son, Edward P. Silva Jr. of New Bedford; a daughter, Barbara Ann (Sabino) Duart and her husband Peter Duart of Vineyard Haven; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Mr. Silva was the brother of the late Gilbert P., George P. and Lila Silva.

The funeral will be Friday, Dec. 12, at 9:15 a.m. from the Wareham Village Funeral Home followed by a funeral mass at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 82 High street in Wareham. Interment will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: Camp Safe House c/o Tony Lombardi, 28 Pine Lane, West Tisbury, MA 02575 or Vineyard House, 106 Eastville avenue, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.