Renaldo D. "Tot" Silva

LAKELAND – Renaldo Domingo “Tot” Silva, 95, died February 6, 2018 at his Azalea Park home in Lakeland. He was born September 15, 1922 in Tampa, Florida, the son of Ramon and Angelina Silva. He was the youngest of six children. He married Marion Elizabeth Flanagan on December 7, 1942. Tot’s ties to Lakeland were deep and longstanding as his father-in-law, Pat Flanagan, was a Mayor of Lakeland and on the City Commission in the 1940s and 1950s. Marion and Tot were married for 62 years, until her death in 2004. Tot lived in Tampa for most of his life, before moving to Lakeland in 2005. He was one of the longest tenured residents of Azalea Park. In 1942, Tot was the first Tampa employee hired by Herman Lay for his snack food business, the H.W. Lay & Company. Soon thereafter, Tot was drafted into the Navy during World War II. After a medical discharge following an injury, he joined the Merchant Marines, escorting ammo, fuel and other supplies across the Atlantic. Following the war, he returned to Tampa and re-joined Frito-Lay, until his retirement in 1980. He then worked for Budd Mayer Company, a Tampa food brokerage, for several years. Tot was also a musician and was a member of the band, The Green Valley Boys. His band was managed by Colonel Tom Parker, who later became the longtime manager for Elvis Presley. Parker was preparing to take the band to The Grand Ole Opry until the band members left for WWII. Tot continued to play the guitar and sing “hillbilly” songs into his 90s. Tot was also an accomplished artist, and he enjoyed photography, golf, fishing, gardening, and travel. Most importantly, his life was marked by contentment, kindness, gratitude, humor, and a genuine, positive outlook. He was quick to offer a generous smile, even in his final hours. In addition to being predeceased by his parents and wife, Tot was preceded in death by his brothers Angelo, Raymond, Delio, and Albert; and by his sister, Dalia. He was also preceded in death by his nephew, Leslie Silva. He is survived by his godson, Mark Maynor, New Port Richey; by nephews Burl Wilson, Jr., Lakeland, Bobby Wilson, Sylva, North Carolina, Steve Wilson, Lakeland, Patrick Flanagan, Lithia; and by nieces Sandra Traina, Tampa, and Trish Rose, Lakeland. He is also survived by a number of great and great-great nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Tot’s life will be held, Wednesday, February 14th, 2018, 3:00 p.m. at Azalea Park, 1325 Grasslands Blvd., in Lakeland. Memorials may be provided to favorite charitable organizations, in Tot’s honor.