Rusty, as everyone knew him, was born October 4, 1949 in Stockton, CA the only child of Leo and Betty Silva. Rusty passed away at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento on August 6, 2018 surrounded by his loved ones. Rusty grew up in Riverbank attending Cardozo School, Oakdale High School class of 1967, Modesto Jr. College, and graduated and received his teaching credential from Humboldt State University. Rusty is survived by his wife of 48 years Lynda and daughter Michelle. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, many cousins and a lot of friends and former students. He was preceded in death by his daughter Katherine Silva, his parents Leo and Betty Silva, and his grandparents Dick and Ines Mott and Les and Lela Silva.
Rusty’s passion was football both playing it in high school and college then being able to coach high school football for 39 years. His teaching and coaching started at Riverbank High School where he taught Science and PE and coached football, wrestling, freshman basketball and track. In 1986, he transferred to Turlock High School where he taught PE and a few classes of Biology but most of all coached football. He retired from teaching in 2007, but continued coaching in the football program for another four years. Rusty helped coach in the Lions All Star games on four different occasions. He truly loved watching films in preparation for upcoming games dissecting the opponent’s plays and how to defend against them. Before the digital age he would drive Lynda and Michelle crazy as he watched games frame by frame.
Rusty also loved the outdoors and went on many fishing trips with his dad, grandfather, and fishing buddies. There were many tales of who caught the biggest, the most and the ones that got away. Hunting ducks became another sport, first hunting from a floating blind on the reservoir and later as a member of Fetherston Duck Club where he and his dog spent many hours together. He learned to cook the ducks and he and his daughter Michelle loved them. Golf was his third passion until he hurt a muscle and had trouble swinging a club but he loved watching it on TV.
He and Lynda loved to travel by car and had some great adventures finding new places and new roads. They managed to see almost all of the states west of the Missippippi. He had the opportunity to go on an Alaskan fishing trip, an Alaskan cruise and a third trip to Alaska with Lynda and his dad. As an avid Giants fan he attended games in SF and rarely missed them or the Warriors on TV.
He was a member of Riverbank United Methodist Church where he served on many committees, and a member of the Masonic order.
A visitation will be held Friday, August 17 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Riverbank Memorial Chapel, 3131 Santa Fe St., Riverbank. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, August 18 at 10 a.m. at Community United Methodist Church, 1480 Poplar, Oakdale. Burial will follow at Lakewood Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe St.
The family invites all those attending to wear casual attire and if you were a coach or a player wear your shirts. Rusty’s favorite attire was a T-shirt and a pair of shorts and this is a day to remember a wonderful man, husband, father and friend to all he met.
In lieu of flowers remembrances can be sent to Riverbank United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1091, Riverbank, CA 95367 or Turlock High School for the Rusty Silva Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1600 W. Canal Dr., Turlock, CA 95381 to establish a football scholarship in his name.
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Aug. 15, 2018
