Delbert Silman

Delbert Leon Silman was born Oct. 12, 1932, in Gideon Missouri to AJ Silman and Ercil Pavy. He laid his life to rest on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 at his home in Portageville, Missouri, at the age of 89 years, 3 months and 3 days. 

In the earlier years of his life, Delbert served as a radio operator in the Army during the Korean War and upon discharge, trained as a diesel mechanic with General Motors in St. Louis. It was there he met and married Vera Jean Dunakey on Feb. 10, 1956. Upon certification as a diesel mechanic, he settled his new family in Las Vegas, where he worked for the Nevada Atomic Test Site, located 65 miles north of Las Vegas. In 1968, he resettled his family in Portageville where he owned and operated S&S Painting. 

Throughout his life, he pursued his passion of repairing and restoring automobiles through side businesses and hobbies; in those circles, he was known as “Del” or “Red” (he had red hair as a younger man). 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ercil Pavey; his father, AJ Silman; his stepmother, Margie Silman; three brothers: Merrill Dee Silman, Jerry Dale Silman and Sonny Garcia; one sister, Sheary Urias (Garcia); and his wife of 55 years, Vera Jean Silman. He leaves to cherish his memories one daughter, Karen Jevsevar (Doug Carroll) of Sylva North Carolina; one son, Mark Silman (Cindy) of Benton Missouri; four sisters: JoAnn Little of Yorba Linda California, Barbara Dabney of Columbia Missouri, Nancy Edgar of Portageville and Terri Joiner of Malden, Missouri; three brothers: Robert Silman of Marston, Missouri, Danny Silman of Portageville and Phillip Silman of Lilbourn, Missouri; four grandchildren: Kristen Russell (Jevsevar) of New Orleans, Jordan Pasley (Silman) of West Plains Missouri, Andy Silman of Benton and Allan Silman of Benton; two great-grandchildren: Drew Silman and Leah Silman; as well as, a host of many other relatives and friends. 

Joining his wife, Delbert will be interred at the Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield Missouri. A family gathering in memory of Delbert will be held after the service. His family would like to thank all the kind folks of Portageville that befriended and looked after “Pop” over his latter years, and specifically, those at Katie’s Diner, the Food Rite, First State Bank and DeLisle Funeral Home. 

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at DeLisle Funeral Home at 3 p.m. with Rev David Dittman officiating

Visitation will start at 2 p.m. at DeLisle Funeral Home.

The family is requesting memorials be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to St Jude Children’s Hospital.