Rev. Rod Silver, 42, former senior pastor at Bible Baptist Church in Bloomington and the band director at Marquette Manor Baptist Church in Downers Grove, died Friday, March 3, in his Bolingbrook home. Rev. Silver was the founder and director of Illinois All State Band and Choir Festival for Christian Schools. An accomplished band and choir director, Rev. Silver was an author and songwriter who received numerous awards for his work. He also was the founder of Southside Baptist Academy Baseball and a former youth pastor and minister of music in Newington, Conn. He was born in Lafayette, Ind., and formerly lived in Oak Lawn and Bloomingdale. Survivors include his wife, Darlene; two sons, Matthew and Brian; a daughter, Amye; his parents, Rev. Ray and Joan Silver; a sister, Janet Stein; and two brothers, Rev. Jerry and Mike. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until services at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Marquette Manor Baptist Church, 333 75th St., Downers Grove, and from 1 p.m. until services at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Bethel Baptist Church, Georgetown, Ill.
