Donate
Image of CAPT Charles Edward Silva II

CAPT Charles Edward Silva II

Captain

Date of birth 12/30/1952
Date of passing 04/04/2022

CHARLES EDWARD SILVA II “Chuck”

Passed away peacefully on April 4, 2022, in Richmond, VA, surrounded by his family. He was born December 30, 1952, in Houston, TX, to Ruth Sheets and Theodore Deane Silva. Born into an Air Force family, Chuck lived all over during his childhood; moving from Houston, to Omaha, Sacramento, Aguadilla, PR, and Holyoke, MA before finally settling in Alexandria, VA, which Chuck always thought of as “home”. There, Chuck made many lifelong friends and graduated from Fort Hunt High School in 1971. Chuck attended the University of South Florida and earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Chuck would also go back to school to earn two master’s degrees: one in National Security from National Defense University and one in Public Administration from George Washington University.

After graduation, Chuck moved to San Diego to work for Naval Air Systems Command and enjoyed the CA lifestyle windsurfing and scuba diving. He moved back to Alexandria, VA, serving in many logistics capacities for NAVAIR, among them as Director of Logistics for the V-22 Osprey Program. Chuck then became the Director of Integrated Support for the Office of the Secretary of the Navy and finally Senior Policy Analyst for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Chuck had 30-year distinguished career as a Civil Servant, earning two Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Awards. After retiring from Federal Service, Chuck had a 13-year career at CACI as a Consultant, Program Manager and finally Senior Principal Acquisition Analyst.

Chuck also served for 27 years as an Officer in the United States Navy Reserves, specifically with the 23rd Mobile Construction Battalion Seabees, where he rose to the rank of Captain. In 2000, under his command, NMCB23 was awarded the RADM John R. Perry Award.

Throughout his life Chuck was an active volunteer. He raised funds for and served on the Board of the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association. He was on the Vestry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, sang in the church choir and stepped up to help anyone in the community.

At an Oktoberfest in MD, he met the love of his life, Meg. They began dating shortly after and were married in 1988. Chuck and Meg were blessed with the joy of their lives, sons Christopher and Patrick. The Silvas made their home in Alexandria, VA, before Chuck and Meg ultimately retired to Richmond.

As a husband, he was a steadfast, loving, and loyal partner and enjoyed immeasurable happiness in his marriage to Meg. As a father, he was devoted to his two sons and strived to give them the best life possible. He taught them many things, but particularly emphasized the value of a life of kindness, hard-work, and service to others. Chuck had an immense appreciation for life and all that it had to offer. From music to sports, the love of a good meal to the love of a good laugh, from moments of sadness to those of visceral happiness; Chuck recognized that all things had their place in life and made sure to savor every moment of it.

He is survived by his loving wife of 34-years, Meg Murtaugh Silva, his precious sons, Christopher Silva and Patrick Silva, dearest brother Theodore “Ted” Silva II (Gabriela) adoring in-laws: Mindy Murtaugh, Mary Murtaugh Shaw (Henry), Frank Murtaugh, Christopher Murtaugh; special nieces and nephews, Emily Murtaugh, Moira Murtaugh, Stephanie Hohlweg, William Murtaugh and Russell Buhr.

Chuck’s Celebration of Life is Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 2 p.m., Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, 8009 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA. In lieu of flowers, Chuck would be honored by donations to the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association, where a scholarship has been established in his name www.seabee.org/donate (designate CAPT Chuck Silva as the honoree) or to CLL Leukemia Society www.cllsociety.org
Published by The Washington Post on Apr. 29, 2022.

Link to obituary

If you would like to share an obituary of a loved one to be listed here, please contact the Navy Seabee Foundation at info@seabee.org.