When Palmerton area residents think food pantry, the name Charlie Silliman will always have a fond place in their hearts.

For years, Silliman willingly and selflessly gave of his time to ensure that families less fortunate were able to have food on their tables.Silliman made sure of that until he fell ill and was forced to retire last year. Before his illness, Silliman served as the food pantry coordinator for the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches since 1999.On Saturday, Silliman passed away in his home along Hahns Dairy Road in Lower Towamensing Township at the age of 84.He leaves behind his widow of 53 years, Florence; a daughter, the Rev. Heidi M. Silliman; two sons, David C., of Bethlehem, and Timothy S., of Slatington; and a sister, Mary M. Stroup of Mahoning Township, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.In the days leading up to his passing, Heidi, with whom Silliman resided, said she and her family knew their father was on borrowed time."We're at peace with dad's passing; we were seeing him decline, we knew, and he knew, it was his time," Heidi said. "We're glad he's out of pain and suffering."Heidi said there are several traits her father exhibited that especially stick out in her mind."What I remember about dad, and my brothers would say this as well, he was just of the old school of hard work, a really strong work ethic," she said. "The house that he had died in, he grew up here, this house is probably 100 years old. He was the youngest of 15, so he's an icon for his family's history, and the community as well."Heidi said growing up on the family farm instilled a strong work ethic in her and her brothers."Dad, he was one of those stubborn Dutchman," she said. "We certainly learned a lot from him; he was a strong man of faith, strong with his community."Along with his volunteerism, Heidi said her father will also be fondly remembered for the sticky bun sales from his church. It turns out the recipe was his mothers.In addition, she said he enjoyed going to high school basketball games, and was a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan.While he was under the care of hospice, Heidi said her father was able to watch a Cardinals baseball game on her computer on the Fourth of July.As if being granted his final wish, it was a game in which the Cardinals won."When he died Saturday night, and after the Campton people came in, there were small fireworks that were going off," she said. "There was something about it that gave us a sense of closure."Silliman worked as a clerk and in the paint department of Shea's Hardware, Palmerton.Previously, he worked as clerk and bookkeeper for the former New Jersey Zinc Co., and for the former Costenbader's Hardware, both of Palmerton.But, anyone who knew Silliman understood his unbridled passion for CACPAC.Richard Nothstein, a borough councilman who is also part-owner of Country Harvest Family Market in Palmerton, said he and Silliman shared many special times."It's a great loss to the community; Charlie's been a giver for decades," Nothstein said."He ran the pantry like it was his own personal mission, and the results showed that even though the money went down and the clients (doubled), he found ways to accommodate them and meet their basic needs," Nothstein said,He said he had been aware of Silliman's health issues, and that it had been a struggle for him to take care of his personal needs."I'm gonna miss him," he said. "I liked kidding with him and he kidding back; it was just a very pleasant relationship."Nothstein said he can very vividly recount when the former Golden Key Market in Palmerton was open, Silliman would bring his list in, and they'd gather the products together, especially during the holidays, when there was a greater demand."We'd try to help him out with the turkeys or the chickens; we tried to make his mission a reality," he said. "Every month, Charlie would show up with his crew and get the job done."Nothstein, who also commended the volunteers at CACPAC, also knew Silliman from their time as board members for the Shepherd House."We usually sat together," he said. "It was always a pleasure to be by his side, and he knew so much more about it than I did."A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Salem United Methodist Church, Aquashicola, with the Rev. Deborah McLean officiating. A private interment will be held at Towamensing Cemetery, Palmerton.