Joe Floyd Silkey

Joe Floyd Silkey, 89 of Princeton died at home March 31, 2018 following a gradual decline with a long protracted illness. He was born March 30, 1929 to parents Florence Leona (Craig) Silkey and Estel Henry Silkey. Joe was born in a small "shotgun" house on Coal Mine Road 1/2 mile east of Hwy 57 in Elberfeld, Indiana. The family soon moved to Fort Branch, Indiana. He graduated from Fort Branch High School in 1948 where he was a member of the Conservation Club and Twigs Twitter staff (the monthly school paper). Joe played basketball for an extramural traveling team the "Pigeon Creek Polecats". He worked briefly for Orville Redenbacher at Princeton Farms and then employed at Emge Meat Packing where he worked for 41-1/2 years, retiring in 1991. Joe Floyd served 9 years in the Indiana National Guard Reserve, 38th Infantry Division, BATTERY "A", 163rd Field Artillery Battalion. In1954, Joe married Sandra and moved to Princeton, Indiana where he resided for the remainder of his life. They had a cabin on Kentucky Lake and enjoyed fishing, boating and being with family and friends. Joe was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, serving as deacon and usher for 4 years, as an elder for 4 years, and on the treasury committee for a total of 18 years of service. He was a devoted, faithful, loving husband and father. His wife of 63 years Sandra Lu Silkey passed away just 58 days earlier on Feb 1st, 2018. Joe’s two sons were with him at home when he passed away, Joe S. Silkey (Vickey) from St. Louis, MO an aerospace engineer with a Master’s degree in Engineering, and Dr. John W. Silkey, D.P.M., M.D., of Wisconsin. Joe Floyd has one grandson, Lucas Silkey of St. Louis, currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Engineering. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Melvin Silkey of Fort Branch, Indiana; brother-in-law Bud Bradshaw of Indianapolis, Indiana; sister-in-law Kathleen Silkey of Fort Branch, Indiana; and niece Susan Bradshaw Windsor of Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition to his sons, he is survived by sister Wanda Bradshaw of Indianapolis, Indiana; brother Herschel Silkey of Evansville, Indiana; and nephews: Dennis Bradshaw of Indianapolis, Richard Silkey of Evansville, and David Silkey of Fort Branch, Indiana. Growing up during the Great Depression, his family was very poor. Joe had to work at a young age and being the oldest of 4 children, bore the brunt of extra responsibility. He would have chores 2 hours before school and then again when returning home. Work on the farm was seven days a week. Government rationing after the bombing of Pearl Harbor made life even harder. He said “you could not find a dollar anywhere”. Joe learned the value of hard work and fiscal responsibility and passed that on to his children. Joe Floyd was an American success going from poverty and hard work to prosperity in order to provide for his family. Joe was a gentleman, kind to others, honest, courteous, and quietly charismatic. He did not drink, smoke or curse, and never had a bad thing to say about anybody. He was modest and did not see himself as being any better or different from anyone else, and did not expect any praise. But Joe, along with many of his generation who grew up during the depression deserve acknowledgment and respect. Joe always said "Time marches on". We pray for all be reunited in Heaven. Visitation will be Saturday April 7, 2018 from 12:00 noon until 1:30 pm at the Colvin Funeral Home, then procession to the United Presbyterian Church in Princeton, IN, for funeral at 2:00 pm officiated by Rev. Vanlal Hruaia. Burial will follow at the Walnut Hill Cemetery in Ft. Branch, IN. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Presbyterian Church. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.colvinfuneralhome.com.

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