L. F. Silva

L.F. “Chano” Silva, 85 a lifelong Fort Sumner resident died Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, NM following an illness. Chano was born December 20, 1918 in Fort Sumner to the home of Jesus Silva and the former Margaret Spitz. He was reared and attended schools at Fort Sumner. He married Lois Pena in 1937 at Fort Sumner. Chano worked for the NM State Highway Department and the Bureau of Reclamation. He served with the United States Marines from June 19, 1944 until his honorable discharge on January 2, 1946. He was wounded at Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands on May 7, 1945 and received the Purple Heart Medal. Chano’s past time was visiting with tourists and visitors to Fort Sumner; he was a local authority on the history of Billy The Kid. His grandfather was a pallbearer at the funeral of Billy The Kid. Chano was preceded in death by his wife Lois in 1983; two infant sisters an infant brother and his parents. Survivors include a daughter Dolores Drake of Fort Sumner; a son Bobby Silva of Roswell, NM; three grandsons, Tom Drake of Clovis; Ray Drake of Lake Sumner; and Brian Drake of La Lande, NM; six great-grandchildren; and a cousin raised as a sister Cesaria Aragon of Albuquerque, NM along with many friends. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M, Friday, May 28, 2004, from the Old Fort Cemetery, 3501 Billy The Kid Road, south of Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Sister Teresita Garcia will officiate. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (505) 355-2311 www.chavezfuneralhome.com