Daniel Anthony Silva

Daniel Anthony Silva January 27, 1934 - April 28, 2026 Daniel Anthony "Danny" Silva, 92, of San Luis Obispo, passed away peacefully at home on April 28, 2026. Born in San Luis Obispo on January 27, 1934, Danny was the eldest child of Anthony and Marie Lucas Silva. Danny had twin sisters, Caroline Rose Silva and Catherine Silva. Danny was preceded in death by his sisters Catherine at 6 months and Caroline at 77 years of age. In 1937, when he was just three years old, his parents were tragically killed in a car accident. Danny was then raised by his paternal grandparents, Manuel and Barbara (Victorino) Silva. His sister, Caroline, went to live with their maternal grandparents in San Mateo, Serafina and Anthony Lucas. Manuel and Barbara who were Portuguese immigrants from Sao Jorge in the Azores Islands, owned a ranch and dairy in Edna Valley. Life on the family ranch shaped Danny from an early age. Before school, he milked Holstein cows and helped with the dry land crops. They grew garbanzo beans and barley hay. Danny delivered milk from their dairy to the Old Creamery on Nipomo Street (now Reis Mortuary). He also worked for E.C. Loomis & Sons and later Lucksinger Motors and Stanley Cole. Danny attended the one-room Independence School on Orcutt Road (now Baileyana Winery) alongside his cousins Vernon and Clarence Lopes. He graduated from SLO High School, where he was active in FFA and the Smokers Car Club, racing jalopies at Exposition Park Raceway, (now Meadow Park). A lifelong mechanic, he spend much of his free time working on cars and motorcycles. In his lifetime, Danny owned 51 cars and he loved his Harley Davidson Motorcycles. It was at SLO High School that he met the love of his life, Barbara Jean Dwyer. The couple married shortly after graduation at Saint Joan of Arc Church in Las Vegas in 1952. Danny began his career as a mechanic at Cole's Motors. He later joined Caltrans Shop 5 as a heavy equipment mechanic and eventually became shop foreman, retiring after a dedicated 36-year career. A lifelong parishioner of the Old Mission Parish, he remained deeply connected to his faith and community. Danny and Barbara raised three daughters, Susan, Leslie, and Beth. The family spent many summers water skiing on Lake Nacimiento and later enjoyed fishing and camping trips with their children and grandchildren in the Eastern High Sierra. For many years they were active in the Bishop's Peak 4-H Club, raising sheep and beef cattle for the San Luis Obispo County Fair. Barbara taught 4-H cooking classes at home, and the family participated in Portuguese celebrations at Trinity Hall in Edna Valley. Danny is survived by his loving wife of 74 years, Barbara Jean Silva; his daughters Susan "Suzie" Silva Madonna (John), Leslie Silva Teyssier, and Beth Silva Sayler (Kraig); grandchildren Zack and Reese Sayler, Danica and Elizabeth Teyssier, and Giovanna and Serafina Madonna; and great-grandchildren Clarence and Ruthie Sayler. In honor of Danny's lifelong love of animals, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: Homeless Animal Rescue Team (HART), Cambria, CA Cal Poly Cat Program Woods Humane Society