On Thursday, March 28, Frank August Sylva suddenly passed. He was born in 1937 to the late Frank Sylva and Florence Dobbs, and was brother to Marie and Mike Odom, and Rose and the late Ed Jaffe.

Frank was born in Southern California and lived up and down the West Coast. He went where the fruit grew and ended up in his mother’s home town of Kelseyville. It was there that he graduated from Kelseyville High School. He married his high school sweetheart and had two boys, Jim and Ken Sylva.

In 1964 Frank opened up A_1 Body Shop with Corley Anderson. By 1971 Frank’s life changed. He bought out his business partner and married Patricia Shipley. He gained two more children by the names Candace and Bill.

Frank served in the Army Reserve for nine years, and for over 10 years was very active in the reserve fire department and the sheriff’s posse. He was an active fisherman and belonged to the Derby Fishing Club for 44 years. For over 40 years Frank and his sons set off fireworks around all of Lake County.

Frank was an avid horseman and belonged to the Clearlake Horsemen for over 20 years. He rode long after his retirement in 2000, and at the age of 70 he adopted a mustang and trained him himself. One of the only things he rode farther then his horse was his motorcycle. He rode from Mexico to Canada several times with his wife Patricia on the back.

Frank was an incredible grandfather to Justin, Becky, Julie, Tiffany, Joanie, Cameron, Joe, Mitchell, Nathan, Lauren, Joesef and Colton. Even children he was not related to called him their grandpa. His great-grandchildren Brandon, Rio, Jorden, Jessie and Luca were blessed to have known him.

Frank Sylva will be missed terribly by all of his friends and family. He was a loving and inspiring person who worked hard and played harder.

Friends and family are welcome to join in our celebration of life. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Rancho De La Fuente on Soda Bay Road in Lakeport. Donations and gifts are unnecessary, but please be prepared to share stories and smiles.

Arrangements entrusted to Jones Mortuary FD311, Lakeport, Calif.