James W. “Bill” Snyder
January 18, 1928 ~ January 3, 2015 (age 86) 86 Years OldShare using:
James W. “Bill” Snyder, 86, passed away Saturday, January 3, 2015 at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Born January 18, 1928 to Clayton and Helen (Ream) Snyder in Spring Mills, Bill was the second of three sons. He attended Spring Mills Elementary School and graduated from Gregg Township Vocational School in 1945 where he was active in band, basketball, baseball and soccer.
Bill proudly served in the World War II Army of Occupation, 10th Constabulary Regimental Band in Stuttgart, Germany with Honorable Discharge as Staff Sergeant. After returning from the military, Bill was employed by Titan Metal Works and then entered an apprenticeship as a sign painter at Penn State where he went on to become a sign painter for 39 years, hand lettering everything across the campus from office doors to football end zones and press boxes. Bill was also well known locally for lettering trucks and signs for many businesses and organizations throughout the Penns Valley area.
Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, gardening and especially being with his family. He extended his hobbies after retirement to wood carving and painting hundreds of birds, ducks, and figurines. Bill was a member of Grace United Church of Christ of Spring Mills, Gregg Township Fire Company No. 1, and the American Legion Keystone Post 444 in Millheim.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Miriam (Zettle) Snyder; one son, John, of Bear, DE; one daughter, Audrey (David) Stensrud, of Boalsburg; three grandchildren, Betsy (Jeff) McCormack of Independence, OH; Matthew Stensrud of Alexandria, VA; and Caitlin (Alex) Stensrud-Smith of Edmond, OK; and one great-granddaughter, Evelyn McCormack. Bill was predeceased by his parents and brothers, Melvin “Snip”, and Ralph Snyder
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, January 8th at the Steven R. Neff Funeral Home in Millheim from 10 am – noon. The funeral service will follow at noon with Pastor Leigh Pick officiating. Bill will be laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery in Spring Mills. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill’s memory may be given to Grace United Church of Christ, 3344 Penns Valley Pike, Spring Mills, PA 16875. Arrangements were entrusted to the Steven R. Neff Funeral Home.
