Barbara Jean Silva

Barbara Jean Silva July 13, 1934 - May 23, 2026 Barbara Jean Silva, 91, of San Luis Obispo, passed away peacefully at Arroyo Grande Hospital on May 23, 2026. Born in San Luis Obispo on July 13, 1934, Barbara was the daughter of Lester and Thelma Buffett. Barbara has half sisters Marilyn Bashaw (Rick), and Bonnie Buffett and half brother, Jim Buffett (Nora). Nieces, Adriana Mathis, and Casey Kelly Dwyer. Also, nephews, Nevada Warren, Chad, Jason, and Todd Bashaw. Barbara was preceded in death by her half brother, Michael Kelly Dwyer. Barbara’s mother, Thelma, divorced and later married Lt. Col. Wayne Francis Dwyer. Being in the Army; the family moved often and lived in Alabama, Oklahoma, Independence, Missouri (where she walked past President Truman’s house on her way to school everyday), Temple Texas and Fort Ord, in Monterey, California. Barbara attended Monterey Union High School and participated in the school choir. She also attended SLO Jr. High School where she met and later married Danny Silva. They both enjoyed riding Danny’s motorcycles and going to the jalopy races together. They married shortly after graduation at Saint Joan of Arc Church in Las Vegas in 1952. Barbara was a telephone operator for Pacific Bell for several years in San Luis Obispo. She had a love of music and drama. One of her favorite childhood memories was making homemade recordings of songs and plays on vinyl records with her family. Barbara was also an accomplished seamstress and baker. Danny and Barbara raised three daughters, Susan, Leslie and Beth. The family lived on Jeffrey Drive in San Luis Obispo, then moved out to Rolling Hills near the SLO Airport. The family then had bridle trails to ride horses on, and room to raise their 4-H sheep projects. The family enjoyed going out to the Silva Ranch in Edna Valley to ride mini bikes, hike and have large family gatherings. Barbara and Danny also had a love for camping and enjoyed Yosemite, Bass Lake and the Eastern Sierra. One of their favorite things to do was to ride their Harley Davidson motorcycle from San Luis Obispo, to the Narrow Gauge Inn near Yosemite Valley. Barbara is survived by her daughters Susan “Suzie” Madonna (John), Leslie Silva Teyssier, and Beth Silva Sayler (Kraig); grandchildren, Zack and Reese Sayler, Danica and Elizabeth Teyssier, Giovanna and Serafina Madonna; and great-grand children Clarence and Ruthie Sayler. Services will be held as follows: Catholic Rosary, June 4 at 6:00pm Reis Family Mortuary 991 Nipomo St. San Luis Obispo, CA Funeral Mass June 5th at 10am Old Mission Parish 751 Palm St. SLO, CA