Joseph K. Silvernail

Joseph Keltner Silvernail, Sr. December 2th 1933 - April 16th 2015 Joe was in the care of Hospice and his wife June when he lost his hard fought battle with Dementia on the evening of April 16th in the presence of his family. Born in Columbus Mississippi, Joe came to St. Petersburg in 1936 at two years old. He grew up in south St. Petersburg with his brother George Jr. and parents George "Pappy" and Jeanette. Growing up in the 1940's was a different time than today. The Silvernail men would hunt and fish for a lot of their meals. Various animals caught would end up on the dinner plate out of necessity. Joe volunteered for the Navy to serve in Korea. He was trained as an aviation electrician, flew in a B-24 Liberator as a tail gunner and served proudly on the USS Kenneth Whiting. After Korea he went to work in the family business, Silvernail Glass and Mirror while in the Naval reserve. In 1967, he and his brother George opened International Glass on Tyrone Blvd which was a successful venture. Prior to that, they also had a glass business in Puerto Rico. Joe and George ended their partnership in 1974 and Joe returned to the building his father built in 1948 on 1st Avenue South to open Silvernail Glass & Mirror. Joe held several patents in the glass construction industry. He was known for being a good business man, who was honest and fair. He retired from the glass business before the age of 50. In 1985, he converted one of his investment properties into Salt Creek Marina, a small boat yard in St. Petersburg. Over the next 30 years Joe developed the adjacent property from the cramped little service yard into a 5 acre marina with dry storage, full service and " do- it- yourself work space. He provided the means for the average "blue collar" boater to work on their own boats. I don't think there was a time when Joe did not own a boat. He built homemade skiffs and had numerous wooden motorboats. He got the bug to start sailing in the early 1970's and quickly became a competitive racer. He won and competed in many races in the Tampa Bay area. All his racing boats were designed by Charley Morgan - Toy, a Morgan Tiger Club 28; Quicksilver, a Morgan 27 and Razzberry, a Heritage Super 27. Joe lived his life as an adventure. His interests included fishing, sailing, boating, scuba, flying airplanes, riding motor cycles. Joe loved to recount his adventures with friends and family by his colorful stories. Joe was also a family man; always wanting to help his boys succeed in all their endeavors. Joe was a wonderful husband, loved by his family, admired by his friends and was very proud of his sons accomplishments. Albeit a busy man, he always had his boys on his mind, and his heart on his wife. He lived five men's lives. Joe is survived by his wife June Silvernail of thirty years, sons: Joe Jr. and Paul Silvernail and daughter-in-law: Leslie Fisher, Jeff Sweat and Patrick Sweat, his grandchildren: Evan and Brennah Sweat, sister-in-law: Beatrice MacArthur Silvernail, his niece: Julie Beachler and former spouse Patricia Silvernail. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice in his name. thehospice.org A visitation will be held from 12:30 - 1:30 PM on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 4444 5th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, where services will begin at 1:30 PM. Burial will follow at Royal Palm Cemetery - South in St. Petersburg. A celebration of Joseph's life will be held at 4:30 PM Tuesday evening at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. David C. Gross Funeral Homes, Central Avenue Chapel in St. Petersburg is serving the family. Service Information