John Thomas Silva, Jr., 100, of Lompoc passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, January 13, 2012.

John was born July 22, 1911 in Santa Maria to John T. and Mary Silva. John's father, John, Sr., brought the family to Lompoc in 1917, in a wagon over the old Harris Grade Road where he had purchased a farm on the north bank of the Santa Ynez River.

As a young man, he said he had everything; a dairy, cattle, horses, a cherry, apple, peach, fig orchard and walnut trees. This kept the family comfortably fed through the Great Depression and the extras they gave away to family and friends. This charitable heart would continue for the rest of his life.

In 1940, John joined the U.S. Civil Service and was the supervisor for the heating and cooling plants at the Presidio Army Base in San Francisco and remained there throughout World War II.

He returned to Lompoc after the war and began working at Moore's Department Store, creating the new appliance department in 1947. Appliances were a new field for John but he said he could learn and indeed he did. He soon branched out to his own business, Appliance Center-Maytag, selling and servicing Maytag appliances. For 60 years John has been the original "Mr. Maytag Man" and has become a Lompoc legend. He was especially proud of all the friends he has made over his lifetime. He would see old friends everywhere he went and loved to talk.

His wife Mary J. Silva preceded John in death. He is survived by his daughter Patricia J. Silva-Zeitler of Lompoc, son John T. Silva, III (Floreen) of Palmdale, California, son Dana Silva (Gayle) of Kansas City, Kansas, son Nicholas Silva (Rebecca) of Lompoc, and stepson Bob S. Andrew of Athens, Georgia and seven grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held in the chapel of the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, 123 North A Street on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11 am. A reception will follow at Valley of the Flowers Half Century Club, 341 North N Street in Lompoc.