COL (Ret.) USA, Benjamin S. Silver

Benjamin Stump Silver, age 95, of Gatesville, Texas went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, August 26, 2017. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church of Gatesville. Visitation will be an hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral services in Maryland, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Deer Creek Harmony Presbyterian Church Darlington, Maryland. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow at Deer Creek Harmony Church Cemetery in Harford County, Maryland. Benjamin was born on August 22, 1922 to the late Benjamin Stump and Mary Elizabeth Gordon Silver. He was born in Havre de Grace, MD and was raised on Monteserado Farm and Quaker Bottom Farm in Harford County, MD. Benjamin graduated from Havre de Grace High School in 1939 and the University of Maryland in September of 1943. He enlisted in the United States Army and graduated from officer candidate school, in Fort Benning, GA. He retired as a Colonel with 32 years of service. Ben married Frances Aylette Bowen on February 16, 1946 and she preceded him in death in 1992. He then married Kyoko (Kay) Matsumura Jones on April 9, 1994. Benjamin was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Gatesville and Gatesville Masonic Lodge #197 A.F. & A.M. Ben also enjoyed being a part of numerous other civic clubs. Ben is survived by his wife, Kay Silver; daughters, Sharon S. Blocker and husband, Walter L. Blocker, III, Sandra E. Silver; step-son, Dwight W. Jones; sister, Ruth Walker; grandchildren, Dale, Brice, and Jonathan Blocker, Casey Norwat, Sarah Ishmael, Gina Whitaker, and Jeffery Fletcher; and 12 great grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 2600 E. Main Street, Gatesville, TX 76528.