Vernon Sylvester Silvers
Vernon Sylvester Silvers left his family on June 16, 2026 at his home. He was known as Vernon, Doc, Daddy, Pap and Opie to family and friends.
Vernon was raised in the Sleepy Creek area, where he lived for most of his 94 years.
He began working at age 15 at the Aulabaugh Tomato Factory and often talked about the long hot days spent picking tomatoes. He later worked for John Reddick Orchards in Sleepy Creek, where he frequently recalled the first time he was put into a truck to make deliveries to Mt. Jackson, Va. He had barely been more than 15 miles from home, so this was a big deal to him. He was also proud of the trip he made to Chambersburg, Pa., taking his father with him. In the early 1960s, he went to work at Hepburn Orchards in Hancock, Md., where he remained until his retirement.
Daddy loved to tell stories about the young men working their first jobs, the migrant workers laboring in the heat of peach-picking season and lighting smudge pots to keep the apples from freezing in the spring. In retirement, he was happy to get back on the tractor to haul apples for Mountain View Orchards. His greatest joy, besides his children and grandchildren, was raising hogs.
He and his brother Raymond “started in the hog business” when Daddy was just 13 years old and Raymond had returned from World War II. He raised Duroc hogs for many years before changing to another breed. He was known for having 600-800 pound hogs come butchering day each Thanksgiving.
Daddy married the love of his life, Shirley Stotler Silvers, in 1953, and they spent 73 years together. They were proud of their six children: Terry Silvers (Dorthy), Dawn Lutman (Gary), Johnny Silvers (Brenda), Cindy Crone (Jerry), Alice Jo Henry (Steve) and Audrey Morris (Art).
Mom and Daddy’s house was the home base, or compound, where their nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson gathered for meals, games and lots of laughter. All spent many hours on the porch with him watching for deer and hummingbirds.
Daddy had a quick sense of humor and loved to laugh and tell stories. In later years, he enjoyed taking car rides around the area, always making one last stop before home to get ice cream.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lemuel and Ella Ellen Reed Silvers; siblings Sadie Clark, Elwood Silvers, Henry Silvers, Raymond Silvers and Hazel Clark, and a beloved daughter-in-law, Linda Silvers.
Graveside services were conducted on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 1 p.m. at Mahnes Chapel Cemetery, 223 Mahnes Church Lane, Berkeley Springs with Dwight Fox officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Vernon’s memory may be made to the Berkeley Springs Lions Club, c/o Lyn Goodwin, 177 Zenith Drive, Hedgesville, WV 25427.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
Arrangements are being handled by Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
