Robert E. Snyder died on November 2, 2015 after an extended illness.
Born born on November 17, 1937 in Burlington, Iowa, he was the son of Leo C. and Anna E. Snyder. He attended parochical schools in Burlington and graduated from Maur Hill High School in Atchison, Kansas in 1955. He continued his formal education and completed his Bachelor of Science degree in 1959 from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He entered the Marine Corps in March, 1959, and after completing Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Dec., 1959. He served in the Far East, the Caribbean and on security duty in Key West. In 1965, Captain Snyder was placed on the disabled list and retired in 1970.
Capt. Snyder married Jonnie Flynn McCormac of the Minturn Community in Dillon County on June 26, 1965. He continued his formal education at the University of South Carolina, completing the Master of Arts degree in Education (Counseling) in 1967. He then attended Florida State University and completed the Ph.D program in the College of Education in Aug., 1969 with an emphasis on Adult/Continuing Education.
Dr. Snyder joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina in 1969 and established the Master’s program with the emphasis in Adult/Continuing Education. He conducted numerous workshops throughout the state for Basic Education/GED teachers under the auspices ot the SC State Dept. of Education and taught graduate courses throughout the state.
In July, 1972, Professor Snyder joined the faculty of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. He taught on and off campus graduate-level courses and established a master’s and doctoral-level program for personnel in all areas of Adult/Continuing Education.
In November, 1979, he joined other faculty and staff members in West Germany to establish and complete an Army contract dealing with remedial education for soldiers, a planning improvement program for Army housing and facilities engineers and a special program for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Network, (Europe). The program was completed in Feb., 1983 and the Snyder family returned to Dillon County.
Mr. Snyder worked for several agricultural endeavors before returning to the higher education scene at Pembroke State University. From 1986 to 1991 he was a part-time instructor for the Educational Program-working with teachers in the field and students preparing for teaching/administrative careers. He left the education field due to persistent health problems.
Mr. Snyder was a member of the St. Louis Catholic Church of Dillon where he was involved in religious education at all levels, but most particularly with the adult religious education. He established and conducted the Adult Bible Study Group for 19 years and headed the orientation group for those exploring the Catholic faith (RCIA). He represented the church at the Diocese of Charleston Synod for several years and served as a lector and Eucharistic minister.
He was a member of the VFW and the MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) and a Haven Hospice volunteer for several years.
Mr. Snyder was preceded in death by his daughter, Kristin Marie Snyder.
He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Jonnie, and his daughter Kim Snyder and grandson, Andrew Snyder.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on November 6, 2015 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Dillon, SC, with visitation at the Family Life Center, behind the church from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service.
