Mr. John Silk

SILK, JOHN, 96, of Seminole, died (Friday, Oct. 4, 2013). He was born in Leechburg, PA, and came here in 1947 from Cleveland. He served as a news writer for International News Service prior to World War II. In 1942, he was assigned to duty at a US Coast Guard training station and later to a troop transport vessel. After the war, he operated a business in downtown St. Petersburg for seven years and later the Goody-Goody, opposite Boca Ciega High School for another seven years. He was mostly recognized for his 17 years of civil service in the federal government where he served as the budget and finance officer for the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. Among the several citations received while in civil service, he was mostly proud of the US Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award resented to him in 1977 in recognition of his superior performance of duties in the area of budget and finance. Following his retirement, he worked an additional six years as administrative officer for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, a quasi-federal agency, in Tampa. He attended Cleveland College of Western Reserve University and later received a bachelors degree and a masters degree in religious education from the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary. For a number of years he conducted the business operations for the seminary and served on the board of directors. He was a long-time member of the Northside Baptist Church. Survivors include eight children, eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild. His two sons are John Silk, Jr., Seminole, and Steve Silk, St. Petersburg. His six daughters are Dee Riber, St. Petersburg, Valerie Silk, Seminole, Bonnie Rogers, Deland, Libby Barr, St. Petersburg, Minnie Anderson, Clearwater, and Ruth Harsham, Plant City. The eleven grandchildren are Craig Moll, Stacy Leavitt, David Rogers, Karly Barr, Todd Silk, John Silk, Anna Silk, Andrew Silk, Mandy Wilson, Tony Anderson, and Olivia Harsham. The five great grandchildren are Austin Moll, Bailey McCormick, Katlin Leavitt, Michael Leavitt, Christopher Leavitt, Isaac Anderson, and Zoe and Riley Wilson. His only great, great grandchild is Abby McCormick. Mr. Silk has one surviving brother, Michael, living in Aurora, Ohio. Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, Clearwater. . In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Northside Baptist Church Building Fund or the to Suncoast Hospice Foundation.