Richard Silver

Dr. Richard A. Silver, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died peacefully in his sleep from natural causes early Sunday morning, March 4, at Marquette Manor in Indianapolis. Dick was born July 23, 1922, in Thermopolis, Wyoming to Dorothy (Arnold) and Ralph Silver. His family returned to Indiana and settled in Knightstown while Dick was still in grade school. Little did he know at the time that this would begin a life-long love affair with Henry County in eastern Indiana. In 1939, Dick graduated from Knightstown High School and enrolled at Indiana University to study medicine. He balanced his studies with his social life and became an active member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, an organization that he continued to support throughout his life. After receiving his undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Medicine in 1942, Dick entered the Indiana University School of Medicine and served as class secretary until his graduation in 1944 with his medical degree. After receiving his physician?s license from the state of Indiana in early 1945, he joined the U.S. Army and went overseas to serve as a medical officer in Japan and Korea. After returning to the United States, D...[more]

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married his long-time sweetheart, Betty Wilkinson, on July 20, 1949 at a small ceremony in Betty?s hometown of Sanford, Florida. The couple moved to Rochester, New York, where Dick completed his medical residency and received certification in the specialty of radiology from the American Board of Radiology. After Dick finished his residency, the couple returned to Indiana and settled in Indianapolis, where Dick entered in private practice with his medical school classmate, John Beeler. Over the years, Beeler & Silver Radiology grew into one of the most admired radiology practices in Indiana. Dick helped expand the medical practice to area hospitals, where Beeler & Silver was contracted to provide radiological services. He was a medical director in Winona Hospital in Indianapolis and also led the radiology department at the Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield for a number of years. Dick was active in the Indiana Division of the American Cancer Society and served a term as its president. In 1969, he received an award from the organization recognizing his outstanding contributions to the control of cancer. Dick continued to give back to his alma mater throughout his medical career by serving as a guest professor and lecturer for radiology students at IU?s medical school in Indianapolis. In recent years, he was extremely proud to be able to endow a scholarship, The Richard A. and Elizabeth W. Silver Scholars, to benefit radiology students at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Although he was a life-long Hoosier, Dick loved Florida and particularly enjoyed vacations with his family at New Smyrna Beach. Dick was an avid golfer and was one of the first members of Crooked Stick Golf Club. Over the years, he also enjoyed playing golf as a member at Woodland Country Club and the Indianapolis Country Club. He loved to combine golf and travel, and eagerly looked forward to an annual trip to Pentwater, Michigan, with his golf buddies. Dick was a devoted fan and supporter of the Indiana University athletics. He held season tickets for both football and basketball, and spent many a delightful afternoon or evening rooting for the Hoosier teams. Dick was a long-time member of Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis and contributed in numerous civic organizations in Indianapolis, Greenfield and Knightstown. He was proud to serve a term as president for the Indiana chapter of the Army-Navy Club. He is preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Elizabeth W. Silver, his sister Marion Pidgeon, and his parents, Dorothy and Ralph Silver. He is survived by his daughters Susan Wohlfeld (Bruce) of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL., and Ellen Busche (Dave) of Round Rock, TX; sons Bob (Mary Sue) of Bainbridge Island, WA, and Peter (Amy) of Thousand Oaks, CA; and by his 10 grandchildren, Bryan Wohlfeld (Marna), Anne Glass (Ethan), Kerry Borland, Patrick Borland, Helen Silver, Emily Silver, Scott Silver, Robert Silver, Eric Busche and Lauren Busche; and by three great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 Saturday, March 10, in the Sanctuary at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 North Meridian Street. A private internment service will be held for the family immediately following the service. There will be a reception for family and friends to follow in the community room at Second Presbyterian Church. You may visit www.leppertmortuary.com where you may sign the guest book, share a memory with the family, or in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Susan G Komen Foundation. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel.