Bill was born on March 24, 1945, a “World War II baby,” the oldest son of Stanley and Virginia Parkinson Snarr, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bill was married in the Salt Lake Temple to his sweetheart Patricia Anne Langford in August of 1970. They were blessed with four children: Chelsea Anne (Blake Banning), Patrick Vincent (Chaney Macey), William Cory, and Marnie Anne (Colin Peterson). Bill is survived by his wife and children, seven beloved grandchildren, three sisters and a brother.
He grew up in Salt Lake City in the Canyon Rim neighborhood and graduated from Olympus High School. During the Vietnam War he joined the Utah Air National Guard and trained in ground radio repairs, finishing with the rank of Airman 2nd Class.
Bill served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in New Zealand and remained an active, devoted member of the church throughout his life. He is fondly remembered by many friends from his ward of 36 years.
He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and worked on the first artificial heart. Later, he returned to school and received another Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.
Bill moved with his family to Arizona in 1987 where he worked as a civil engineer, helping to design the infrastructure of the bustling Phoenix metropolis.
Bill attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America at age 15 and continued an association with the organization for most of his life, serving as a Boy Scout Leader and Cubmaster. He was nominated for, and received the Silver Beaver award for his many years of service.
Throughout his lifetime, he enjoyed many other activities and hobbies: philately (stamp collecting), numismatics (coin collecting), model railroading (HO scale) with the Gilbert Model Railroad Club, ham radio operations (KDE7OHU), and travel to historic and church history sites as well as to many foreign countries. He had an intense curiosity about how things worked and wasn’t afraid to take anything apart (even if it wasn’t his.) He was also a voracious reader and would make weekly trips to the library.
Holding various leadership positions in the Sons of Utah Pioneers, he felt it was important to honor his pioneer ancestors for the hardships they endured to reach and settle the Utah Territory. Bill’s faith assured him that he would be with his family after death and prompted him to do genealogy work. He served in the Family History Center and happily helped others to find their ancestors.
Services will be held on Friday, September 29, 2023 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2228 E. Brown Rd. Mesa, Arizona, 85213, with a viewing at 2 p.m. and funeral service at 3 p.m.
Burial will be in his hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AdvantageMelcherRoses.com for the Snarr family.
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