Sandra Jean Snyder Drew

Following several days of stubborn resistance, Sandra Jean Snyder Drew, 76, peacefully passed away from the sequelae of advanced dementia on 2 March 2026. The first-born daughter of two Marines, Sandy was destined to be determined and hard-working. She was born 7 June 1949 in Long Beach, California but spent most of her childhood in Eastern North Carolina with frequent visits and stays with her maternal relatives in North Canton, Ohio. Sandy played the flute in her high school band and spent summers as a lifeguard and Girl Scout camp counselor.

She attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, earning her bachelor's in education, membership in the Valkyrie honorary society, and capturing the heart of S. Nelson Drew. They were married 12 June 1971 and began their journey together as Nelson's Air Force career sent them to Colorado, North Carolina (the irony), Germany, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Belgium. They welcomed two cherished children, Samantha and Phillip, along the way. Attempts to maintain her own career in education were initially thwarted by childcare costs and frequent moves. Instead, during her over 20 years as a military spouse, she was recognized for outstanding community support as she filled numerous volunteer roles to include baseball coach, Girl Scout Leader, spouses club member, as well as being an active choir and congregation member at churches around the globe. Although the houses changed every few years, she maintained a well-curated, comfortable home with thrift store finds while emulating Julia Child and Martha Stewart. Professing to speak "food" in at least three languages, Sandy enjoyed culinary arts, travel, gardening, sewing, and photography when time allowed.

In August 1995, she transitioned to the role of Gold Star Wife when Nelson was killed on active duty in Bosnia. Not to remain idle following this devastating loss, she worked almost 20 years in government service at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Starting with Y2K preparation, she received numerous accolades for her work in speech writing and presentation development. With a master's in library sciences, Sandy organized an expansive home book collection by library of congress number. She also authenticated and archived any documentation regarding her husband's role in bringing peace to the Balkans. Sandy passionately volunteered as the Gold Star Wives President - Mid Atlantic Region and as a peer mentor with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, advocating for spouses' benefits and testifying before congress to ensure support for surviving military family members. She later tried to defy any bookish stereotypes by trying new adventures like whitewater rafting, ziplining, bicycling down a volcano, and riding a motorcycle with Rolling Thunder on Memorial Day.

Sandy joins her beloved husband Nelson, her father Bill, her mother Phyllis, and sister Cheryl in eternal peace. She leaves behind her son and daughter, their spouses: Kaylie Drew and Eric Fil, four treasured grandchildren: Laurel Drew, Emilie Drew, Elanor Fil and Evan Fil, in addition to Ohio and New Jersey relatives and friends across the country.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

Floris United Methodist Church (https://www.florisumc.org/give/)

Gold Star Wives (https://www.goldstarwives.org/Donate)

The Carolina Fund (https://give.unc.edu)