Virginia Snyder

Virginia Mackey Snyder died surrounded by family in Newport Beach, CA May 17, 2020. Virginia lived with wide interests and deep affection for friends and family. Her father, Fred Mackey, was a civil engineer for the U.S. government. Her mother, Hilma Holkko Mackey graduated from Ohio State and taught English. Virginia’s family life with her sister Marjorie included moves to various towns and cities of the midwest and western states including Duluth, MN and Kansas City, KS.

Virginia graduated from Kansas University (KU) William Allen White School of Journalism Phi Beta Kappa in 1953. Her college accomplishments included Mortar Board chapter Vice President, Senior Class Vice President, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority President; Gamma Alpha Chi, professional advertising sorority member; business and advertising manager and board member for the University Daily Kansan.

Her first major employment after college graduation was with WHB Radio, Kansas City. While at WHB radio, television came to Kansas City, and Virginia’s job transitioned to Continuity Editor at local station WHB-TV and then on to her work as Television Continuity Editor and Production Assistant at CBS affiliate KNBC-TV. Virginia had wide variety of responsibilities: writing in-house ads and scripts, scheduling, and assistance with production of live shows and spots.

Virginia married Howard Martin Snyder of Winfield, Kansas December 24, 1954 at Mission Methodist Church in Kansas City while Martin was on Christmas break from his studies Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. Virginia landed a copywriting job in Philadelphia at N.W. Ayer and Son where Virginia met her closest friends, Ismini and Bryn Craig.

She also joined an art club,and made friends in the neighborhood of Rittenhouse Square. Martin and Virginia had a dog first: Nicodemus, a black Labrador, then children. Caroline was born in 1957, and Lincoln was born in 1959, both delivered by Martin’s uncle Cecil in Winfield, KS. Martin served in the Army in Germany before he finished his medical training. Virginia remembered skiing in Davos, Switzerland while pregnant with Lincoln.

The last part of Martin’s medical training was a year in Los Angeles, CA. After it was completed, Marjorie was born in 1965, also in Winfield, KS. Virginia was a vibrant mother, wife, and friend during the years of family life in the 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Virginia and Martin were part of the early 1970’s tennis craze and Virginia contributed to efforts of the Tennis Now non-profit organization that improved and added tennis courts in Laguna Beach, CA including the ones at the high school. Virginia served on PTA boards from elementary through high School years in Laguna Beach, 1972-1982. Martin and Virginia separated in 1983 while continuing to celebrate their family’s graduations, weddings, and grandchildren.

Virginia was an active volunteer in the 1984 Laguna Beach Summer Music Festival, the 1984 Summer Olympics, and the Chopin Guild of the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Virginia enjoyed editing a cookbook published in two editions to help launch the OCPAC. In the 1970’s-1980’s, Virginia joined Alec Cowan and Barbara Hoag’s studio to learn intaglio print techniques. Her work was juried into the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts 1981 and a Laguna Beach Art Museum exhibit.

Virginia provided a stable and social family life with her interests in cooking, reading, and travel. She was active in all the activities Martin loved: skiing, tennis, swimming, walking dogs on the beach or bird hunting on his family’s ranch in Kansas and travel. When Caroline took a year of college to study in France, the family travelled there to ski and visit art museums.

In 1994, Virginia moved to Marin County, CA and learned to scull the San Francisco Bay. Her friends in the rowing community at Marin Rowing Club in Corte Madera inspired her and supported her during three battles with cancer. Virginia drank deep from her access to museums and friends in the San Francisco Bay Area. Virginia’s bucket list for travel continued with trips to Canada, Great Britain, and Finland. After Marin County, Virginia lived the dream in San Francisco at a place near the Giants new stadium which was a treat for family visits.

Health challenges prompted Virginia’s move back to Southern California and she quickly appreciated sharing time with family and music events there. Virginia has been a fountain of conversation, creativity, friendships, and appreciation of history, art, cooking, and music. She lived by Thoreau’s phrase, to go confidently in the direction of her dreams, and she celebrated people in her life in special ways.

Virginia is survived by her sister Marjorie, Mrs. Charles Peterman, Houston, TX and Brother in Law, Charles; Her nephews Mark Peterman, Dallas, TX, his wife Barbara, and their children: Randy and Melanie; Michael Peterman, Texas Hill Country, his wife Alison, and their children - Jason and his wife Melissa, Pismo Beach/Seal Beach, CA; Mike, Katy, TX his wife Brittany and daughter Taylor; Sara Muncy, Austin, TX and her husband Spencer; Katharyn, Fort Collins, CO; and Kirby, Denver, CO; Niece

Elizabeth Nichols, husband Shon and their children Austin and Collin, Houston, TX; Her daughters, son, and grandchildren: Daughter Caroline Blakeslee, Boise, ID, Son in law Brook and their children

Matthew, Boise, ID, Grant, San Clemente, CA, and Madeline, Seattle, WA; Son Lincoln, Newport Beach, CA, his wife Susan and their children Brandon and Brice, Newport Beach, CA, and nephew Dalen O’Dell, Seattle, WA; Daughter Marjorie Nina Snyder, Winfield, KS.

To celebrate Virginia’s life, contribute to your dreams. In her lifetime, Virginia contributed to organizations supporting birds, wildlife, national parks, and United States democratic institutions. She loved keeping current with news, films, and books. Support journalism, support the arts!