FRANK J. SILOVSKY April 5, 1940 to June 19, 2026 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Frank's Obituary

Frank J. Silovsky, born April 5, 1940, died on June 19th, 2026 due to complications related to an infection in the lungs. He was preceded in death by parents Frank Silovsky, Sr., and Marie Silovsky (Lillig, Rada); wife Kathleen Andrea Brown Silovsky; siblings Mary Ann Surges and Charles "Chuck" Silovsky; Niece Ann Hogan; and beloved dogs Corky and Skeezix. He was survived by children Jane Silovsky and husband Steve Beckett; Joseph Silovsky and wife Catherine McRae; grandchildren Sophia Silovsky (#1), Talullah Silovsky (#2), Oliver Silovsky (#3); cousin Mary Lou Foley and family; brother-in-law Pat and wife Cathi Brown; second wife and friend Patti Kate; and nephews and nieces (John, Jim, and Ed Surges, Catherine Meilinger, Maria Larson, Kim Horwedel, and Colleen Brown and their families).

Frank J. Silovsky was a lifetime social, environmental, and peace advocate, as well as a life-long amateur "commode-ian". As a devoted grandfather of Sophia, Tallulah, and Oliver, he was quick to show pictures and brag about them, as well as his kids, at any opportunity. At his core, he was a comedic storyteller. His greatest joy was making others laugh.

After an "idyllic" upbringing raised in a multi-generational home in a Bohemian community of Chicago, he graduated high school from Marmion military boarding school and college at the University of Detroit, majoring in civil engineering. In Detroit, he met, and fell head over heels in love with Kathy Andrea Brown, who he courted and then married on October 5, 1963. Their time as newlyweds in Ohio was cut short by the draft. He did basic training in Fort Leonard Wood and O.C.S. in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he remained as an artillery instructor until discharged in 1969. Jane was born at Fort Sill in 1967, and Joe shortly after discharge in 1969 in Oklahoma City. This period was pivotal, and altered the course of Frank and Kathy Silovsky's lives. They saw young men go to Vietnam and return mentally changed or not return at all; they witnessed racism they had not seen before, and experienced redlining when moving to OKC. They committed to social justice work and joined the Community of John the XXIII, an experimental Catholic group following the teachings of Vatican II. Frank returned to school, supported by the GI bill, and earned a BA in History and Masters in Education. He became an adjunct teacher at Oklahoma City Community College and Rose State College, eschewing full time teaching (he hated the meetings) so that he could focus on what mattered to him: recycling, gardening, cutting firewood, coaching soccer, being active with CJXXIII and later the Unitarian church, supporting the Nonviolent Action Award, neighborhood activities, politics, writing letters to the editor, and sailing. He started the Good Earth Recycling Center in 1972. He supported Kathy's efforts for fair housing including the establishment of the Metropolitan Fair Housing Council in 1979.

Life was forever changed on April 19th, 1995 when the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building took Kathy's co-workers, her spirit, and eventually her life in 1998. The loss of Kathy was devastating, and to cope Frank continued his work for peace. He contributed to a book about survivors; he accepted the post mortem award at the MFHC for Kathy; and he went to Kenya in 2000 to meet with family members and survivors of the terrorist bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi.

Later, Frank met and married his good friend Patti Kate in 2003. They traveled, played Bridge, and took care of many dogs until 2012, when they decided they were better friends than spouses. Frank's heart fell for two sweet puppies, whom he named Corky and Skeezix (after Gasoline Alley cartoon characters). They moved in with his good friend Tony Maroney before buying a rock house that had been built by his buddy Bobby Gresham. Frank enjoyed birds, nature, and writing his life history there until he had a stroke in 2021. He spent the last years of his life in a little home on Jane's property, cared for by family and by angels on earth (Diana Hines, Darleene Armstrong, Deborah Forte, Rita Colbert, and Lori Parnell (deceased)). He was visited by many kind friends from around the globe, with regular special times reminiscing with Anne Murray, Bruce Johnson, Barbara Hagen and Roger Harms. Frank is now with Kathy sailing away. We miss him so much.

Born: April 5, 1940, Chicago, IL

Died: June 19th, 2026, Oklahoma City, OK (Juneteenth)

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following

Metropolitan Fair Housing Council

Metrofairhousing.org

info@metrofairhousing.org

(405) 232-3247

312 NE 28th St #112

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Emily's List

emilyslist.org

ACLU

https://www.acluok.org/donate/

Celebration of Life

11:30 am -1:00 pm on Saturday, August 15th, 2026

Will Rogers Garden Exhibition Center

3400 NW 36th St.

Oklahoma City, Ok 73112

Questions: Contact Jane Silovsky at Janefs@swbell.net