Curtis Bruce Silver

Curtis B. Silver of Friday Harbor, Wash., passed away Feb. 1, 2006, after many years of heart-related problems and most recently a stroke and pneumonia.

He was 86.

Curt was born and raised on a farm in the Salina, Kan. area, moving to California in 1941. Arlene Mae Bear joined him there and they were married in 1942.

Curt was a World War II veteran, serving his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. Spending most of their married life in the San Francisco Bay area, Curt and Arlene built two homes together, had a successful industrial sheet metal business for 20 years, and he was able to retire at 57. He and his wife traveled the United States in a motor home for a number of years.

Curt’s main hobby was building working, live steam engines.

Curt and Arlene moved to San Juan Island with their daughter and her husband, Wayne, in 2002. He often commented on what a wonderful place the island was to spend his later years.

Curt is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Arlene; son, Bruce Silver; daughter, Barbara Zimmerman; grandson, Roger Silver; granddaughter, Jennifer Lovejoy; great-grandchildren, Curtis and Lacie Silver; stepchildren, Stephen Zimmerman, Brian Zimmerman and Marcia Ulisse; step-great-granddaughter, Audrey Zimmerman; and sisters, Bernice Chumley and Jonette Drake.

A memorial service will be held Feb. 11, 1 p.m., at Valley Cemetery on San Juan Island. The family has requested that memorial gifts in memory of Curt Silver be made to Islands Convalescent Center, 660 Spring St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

To share memories of Curtis, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.

— Evans Funeral Chapel