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Josephine Lois Calendine Silman, the daughter of H.W. and Margaret Calendine, was born in Morgan County, Ohio. Mrs. Silman was educated at Marietta College and West Virginia University. She was employed for several years with Borg-Warner, in personnel as an Employee Coordinator. Mr. and Mrs. Silman have three children and six grandchildren, and reside in West Virginia.

Memberships

  • National Society of Americans of Royal Descent (former President General Member of the Most Venerable Order of Saint Louis)

  • One Hundred Living Descendants of Blood Royal

  • Order of the Crown in America

  • National Gavel Society

  • Order of the Merovingian Dynasty

  • Order of Three Crusades 1096-1192

  • Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States of America (Member of the Advisory Council)

  • National Society Colonial Dames of America

  • Order of Descendants of Colonial Cavaliers (former Chaplain General)

  • Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry (Registrar General)

  • National Society Magna Charta Dames

  • Society of the Ark and Dove

  • Jamestowne Society

  • National Guild of Saint Margaret of Scotland

  • First Families of Georgia

  • National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

  • Welcome Society of Pennsylvania

  • Flagon & Trencher: Descendants of Colonial Tavern Keepers

  • National Society Colonial Dames of the XVII Century (National Insignia Chairman; former President of the West Virginia Society)

  • Order Of Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Chirurgiens

  • Hereditary Order Descendants Loyalists & Patriots American Revolution

  • First Families of Ohio

  • Society of Descendants of Knights of the Garter

  • Sons and Daughters of the Colonial & Antebellum Bench & Bar 1565-1861

  • National Society Dames of the Court of Honor

  • National Society of New England Women

  • National Society Descendants of Early Quakers (former National Presiding Clerk)

  • National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims (Chairperson of the Bicknell Scholarship to William and Mary College)

Notes

She was very active in volunteer organizations, including, at various times: Easter Seal Society; March of Dimes; American Cancer Society; Hospital Auxiliary, and Girl Scouts of America. She served as President for the Mt. State Art and Craft Fair; Founder and Trustee of the Scholarship and Grant Fund; and Vice President for the Black Walnut Festival. In addition, Mrs. Silman hosted and wrote scripts for West Virginia Public Radio; hosted a weekly cable television program, "Lively Arts" for eight years; and was writer for a weekly food column, "Country Pantry".

Mrs. Silman was on the Executive Board of the West Virginia Arts Advocacy. She was recipient of "The Citizen of the Year" Award in West Virginia for her arts advocacy, by the Public Relations Society of America. Mrs. Silman was also appointed by the Mayor of Charleston to serve on the Task Force for the Arts. She also served as President of the West Virginia Arts and Crafts Guild.

She held memberships in the Bruce Society in America and The National League of American Pen Women, Inc., Letters. Her writing contributions included articles for Center for Women's Studies, West Virginia University, Goldenseal, Plain Language and Airlines.

Mrs. Silman particularly enjoyed genealogy, travel, cooking, music and theatre, in addition to spending time with her family.

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