Roy Snyder

Roy K. Snyder, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2022 at 101 years old.

Born on October 15, 1920 on a farm outside of Mertztown, PA to Florence and Victor Snyder, one of five children. He enlisted in the US Army upon highschool graduation in 1938 and was stationed in Hawaii for 3 years. When the US entered the war in Europe, he joined the US Army Air Corps. Sent to England, North Africa, and then Italy, his first flight as a tail gunner on a B-17 took off December 19, 1943. It was hit by antiaircraft fire, and the crew had to bail out of the burning plane. Captured, he served 16 months as a POW in Stalag 17B near Krems, Austria. As the war wound down, they were marched west for 18 days until meeting US troops. Returning home in 1945, he met his wife, Charlotte Buss. They started their family while he was attending Moravian College, then Lehigh University, with the goal of becoming a teacher. After college, where he also played football, the family (now two daughters) traveled to Big Timber, MT, where he was a high school teacher and coach for 6 years, adding two sons. Then it was on to Marana AZ, where he was a teacher, coach and administrator for 6 years (adding two more daughters) and finally ended up in Fremont in 1962 where he worked at both Washington and Kennedy High Schools in various capacities—coach, Student Activities Coordinator, Dean, Vice Principal, retiring in 1985.

Roy is predeceased by his wife, Charlotte, and son, Gary. He is survived by Gail (Mike Pereira), Linda (Jack Miller), Buck, Penny (Don Lancaster), Carol, and 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. The family pays special tribute to his caregiver of the last 9 years, Edwin Toco. Before the shutdown of the pandemic, you would find the two of them several times a week playing dice at the Swiss Park. Edwin’s loving care, complete with music, jokes, laughter and dice games are warm memories we all share.

Roy was a quiet person and he was a good person; he took life in stride, and was seldom heard to complain about anyone or anything. When Roy turned 100, there was a big celebration complete with motorcycle parade, honors, balloons, flags and party at the Swiss Park...he received over 300 cards from friends and former students who showered him with compliments and memories. At this time, the family will be honoring him with a private celebration of life. If anyone cares to honor his memory, please make a donation to the The National World War II Museum in New Orleans or any military charitable organization of your choosing.