Meet Mary Ann and Frank Silva! As residents of Harrison Regent Retirement Community in Ogden, Utah, this beautiful couple has a unique and enduring love story. Mary Ann loves to dance and read. Frank began his career as an airplane mechanic. Each served in the United States Military, and they both love horses.
As a young woman, Mary Ann signed up for the Army, thinking she might get to “jump out of an airplane!” Instead, she was sent to secretary school. Next, she was asked to work in a hospital and did not want to give shots! One weekend, Mary Ann went to see her brother in New Jersey and met his friend, Frank Silva. Frank was an airplane mechanic with the Navy. Mary Ann said of their first date: “I went on a date and Frank was the driver, but he told me his name was ‘Ralph.’ We had a Coke and a hamburger. I accidentally left my favorite cigarette lighter in his car. When I got home I said to my brother, ‘when you see Ralph get my lighter back.’ My brother told me his friend’s name was ‘Frank.’ I was so mad! Frank came back another day to take me to get shoes for work. We ended up going out every day after that for three months. We were both short, and we both loved Country & Western and horses.” Mary Ann and Frank kept up a long-distance relationship and then married in Sacramento, CA in 1958. Their life was full with running a dairy ranch, raising horses, working at a creamery, going on camping trips, and caring for a family of five beautiful children. Eventually they adopted a sixth child. Reflecting on their children, Mary Ann laughs, “They are all still characters.”
When asked about being married for over fifty years, Mary Ann said with a smile in her voice, “I think marriage is great. Love is great. Sometimes you are too much alike, and you might fight, but even that can be OK. I like a good fight once in a while. He likes to tease and drives me crazy doing that. I’m glad I am here for him.”