Walter Russell Silva died on Thursday, Dec. 29, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was 85.

Walter was born at Tea Lane Farm in Chilmark on July 13, 1926. He was the son of Joseph and Virginia Silva. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort McClellan, Ala., on August 31, 1945, and was honorably discharged on Nov. 12, 1948. While in the Army, Walter was stationed at AGRC Fontainebleau Depot in Fontainebleau, France.

He met his wife, Lucette, in Fontainebleau at the end of 1946; they were married on August 11, 1947. In 1948 they left Fontainebleau by train to travel to Bremerhaven, Germany. It took them 10 days to cross the Atlantic to reach New York, where they were driven to Camp Kilmer, N.J. until Walter was discharged. They settled on Martha’s Vineyard.

Once on the Island, Walter worked at Tea Lane Farm, Seven Gates Farm, at the airport as a mechanic as well as at Alley’s Auto. In 1967 he became the superintendant at Seven Gates Farm, a job he held until 1992. After retiring, he would often be seen mowing fields with his tractor.

In addition to his wife, Lucette, he is survived by his children: Reginald Silva and his wife, Darlene, Rosemarie Deslauriers and her husband, Carl; and his grandchildren, Tobias and Deborah Silva, Joshua and David Recave. He was predeceased by his son Russell in February 1990.

A graveside service for the interment of his cremains will be held in Abel’s Hill Cemetery on South Road in Chilmark on Friday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m., with military honors provided by the Veterans of Martha’s Vineyard.

Papa, Dad, thank you for all the awesome memories; we will always love you.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Tri-town Ambulance, P.O. Box 340, Chilmark, MA 02535; the Up-Island Council on Aging, 1042 State Road, West Tisbury, MA 02575 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. Please visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.