Ralph Silva

1943 - 2023

Ralph Silva
December 4, 1943 - May 2, 2023
Sacramento, California - The King of our Hearts, Ralph Silva, Jr., passed peacefully in his own home, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren on May 2, 2023 at the age of 79. Born December 4, 1943 the second child, and first son, of Ralph and Martha (Howland) Silva, Ralph spent an idyllic childhood in West Sacramento. Some of his lifelong best memories would be of this time spent in his father's market, the Channel Market, his family home behind the market, exploring the fields and ditches with his dog, Prince, and the daily drives into downtown Sacramento to attend Catholic school, with his mother at the wheel and sharing the backseat with his sister and cousins. These days of love and security would be the bed rock of his loving and optimistic character.
After graduating from James Marshall High School, and returning from the Army, Ralph married Barbara Kale (Silva). While, this marriage was not long, it produced his dear daughter, Sharmie, and Ralph would hold Barbara in the highest regard for the rest of his life.
In the summer of 1969 Ralph met his lifelong love, Irma Halford Silva. They would spend the next 54 years, loving, supporting and caring for one another and would have two more beloved children: Joslyn and Taylor.
Ralph was a roofer for Hester Roofing before becoming a Business Agent for Roofers Local 81. After retiring, Ralph found that as pretty as Janice was, a man can only watch so much of The Price is Right, which inspired him to find the favorite work of his life as the Park Aide for Lembi Park in Folsom. Ralph quickly became the "Mayor of Lembi Park", caring not only for the park itself, but also coworkers, dog walkers and especially the homeless community. He took great pride in the care of the park and the people within it.
Ralph was the model of friendship, maintaining many lifelong friendships with selfless love, support and constant humor.
Ralph's greatest source of pride was his family. His love for his wife and children was in constant selfless action, always "showing up"- available to help with a move, build a new deck, lay a new lawn, reliably solve any problem, big or small, internal or external, with heart and optimism.
A beloved grandpa, Ralphie was a constant presence, not only to give a ride home from school - with a stop at Taco Bell, and to support at every sports event, but to show genuine interest and pride in every phase of his grandchildren's lives. From first steps to first loves, Ralphie was cheering all the way!
He was the storm that gave our life seasons, and also the sun that warmed us, and we grew and prospered in his light.
The loss feels huge, but Ralph leaves us with his amazing sense of humor, appreciation for music, inspirational to love actively and selflessly, love for community, friends and FAMILY above all else, a love for the unconventional and healthy skepticism for the conventional, and enough love to last generations.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Irma, his children, Sharmie (Steve Lewis), Joslyn (Grant Inderbitzen ) and Taylor (Amila) and beloved grandchildren, Harry, Amelia, Greta, Audra, Jolene, and Finley. Also, by his sister, Diane, brother, Mark (Karen) and many loved cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please take your family out for mexican food, eat the hottest salsa that you can, but don't let them order sodas, because that's for rich people, and "that stuff will kill you" anyway. Then take the long way home, on a slow cruise, with the windows down and the music up.
All who knew and loved Ralph are invited to help us memorialize our great man on June 2, 2023, 2:00 PM at San Pedro Park, 708 N. Hobson Avenue, West Sacramento.
We will be forever grateful for the loving and thoughtful care provided by the staff of Kaiser Morse Hospital and Kaiser Hospice Care.