Guy Duncan Silva, M.D.

Guy Duncan Silva, M.D. exited our world on July 5, 2023 exactly as he wanted, with his family by his side in their home at his beloved Pinestone Lake in Lanesville, Indiana. Guy’s roots run deep, stretching from Oregon to Southern Indiana and all the way into the mountains of North Carolina. He was born on January 22, 1949, in Portland, Oregon, to Earl Jackson and Mirnie Mae Duncan Silva. Guy was only two-years old when his father Earl died. Six years later his mother married Darrel Johnson. At the tender age of six, Guy contracted polio which affected the growth of his left leg but didn’t slow him down. Overcoming polio was one of many challenges Guy took in stride, never letting his setbacks define him.

He attended the University of Oregon where he earned his undergraduate and medical degrees and remained a Duck for life. Shortly after his graduation from med school in 1973, Guy packed his bags and drove cross-country to Louisville, Kentucky, for what was supposed to be a one-year internship at the University of Louisville. It was right around this time he met Mary Elizabeth Gesenhues, a labor and delivery nurse at Louisville General Hospital. In his own words, “It didn’t take long for me to realize she was it.” The couple married on May 5, 1974.

Guy’s one-year internship in Louisville swiftly turned into a four-year OBGYN residency. And while he originally believed he would return to Oregon, Floyd County had other plans for Guy. Following his residency, Floyd Memorial Hospital recruited Guy to be part of their OBGYN department, making him the area’s second obstetrician. In 1977, he began his solo OBGYN practice which would later become OBGYN Associates of Southern Indiana. During the four decades Guy spent building his practice into one of the region’s most trusted healthcare providers, he delivered more than 5,000 babies and mentored numerous physicians, nurses and other medical professionals.

In addition to his work as an OBGYN, Guy served as a clinical instructor in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health for the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He was a Diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Society of Liposuction Surgery, the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, the Floyd County Medical Society, and the Indiana State Medical Association.

Guy was an esteemed physician and pillar of the community, but his professional life was only part of what made him so special and so well-loved by his family, friends, colleagues, and patients. Guy led a life of quiet generosity filled with adventure. He believed in treating others the way he hoped to be treated, frequently reminding his children, “Remember the Golden Rule.” A conversation with Guy left you feeling like you were the most interesting person on earth because of his inquisitive nature and fervent curiosity. With all the wisdom he had to share, Guy was just as good at listening, always asking follow-up questions no matter the topic being discussed.

Those closest to Guy knew there was no corner of the world too remote for him to explore. If a trip involved fishing, sailing, hiking, good food, good company, good conversation, or golf, Guy was in. Best of all, he shared his sense of adventure with his children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, as well as his extended family and friends. He took his lucky traveling companions across the world, with trips to Tahiti, Trinidad, Tobago, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Central America, Morocco, Egypt, Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Grand Canyon, Tanzania, British Virgin Islands, South Pacific, and all across Europe (just to name a few).

At home, Guy could often be found at Freedom Hall, and later the Yum! Center, and Cardinal Stadium cheering on his much-loved U of L Cards men’s and women’s basketball teams and football team. He was an avid art collector and his love of music had no bounds. Guy not only collected art but created it, chiseling beautiful granite and stone sculptures and crafting handmade fly fishing rods and streamers—often gifting them to his nieces and nephews. As generous as Guy was with his travel plans, he was just as generous and thoughtful when it came to giving gifts, never failing to send something special he had found to a friend or family member.

The loss of someone so respected and loved by so many has left an indelible mark on Guy’s family, but it has also brought forth a deepening sense of gratitude for everyone who had the good fortune to be part of his circle. Guy had a keen ability to create beautiful spaces where loved ones could come together, celebrating events as big as a wedding or as small as a two-person fishing excursion across the lake. He transformed his longing for the Pacific Ocean and the mountains of Oregon into two gorgeous, welcoming homes, one in the hills of Southern Indiana and the other in the mountains of North Carolina. His treasured Pinestone Lake in Lanesville, Indiana, is a refuge for his family and will serve as a constant reminder of Guy’s legacy.

Above all, Guy cherished his family and valued every moment spent with loved ones. He is survived by his wife Mary, his three children and their spouses, Myra Holloway (Chad), Ada King (Brad), and Norman Silva (Jennifer), and his grandchildren Silas, Marietta, Duncan, Alexina, Jasper, Dahlia, and Ronin—all who will miss their “Pappy” very much. He is also survived by his sisters and brothers-in-law Mirnie Stapleton (Mike) and Laurie Scott (Michael). Guy was embraced by and survived by his in-laws Janice Fessel (Doug), George Gesenhues (Mary), Vicki Summerville, and Herman Gesenhues. He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, and his brother-in-law Norman Louis Gesenhues. He loved each of his numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He is also survived by one very well-behaved (Jackson) and one mischievous (Alice) Moyen Poodle.

Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 14 at Kraft Funeral Service located at 708 East Spring Street, New Albany, Indiana. Guy’s memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 15 at the same location as the visitation. Per Guy’s request, memorial donations can be sent to SOS (SOSHealthandHope.org), The Franciscan Kitchen (franciscankitchen.org), or Hosparus Health of Southern Indiana (hosparushealth.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kraftfuneralservice.net for the Silva family.