Ralph E. Snyder

Ralph E. Snyder, 80, of Springfield, died at 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, January 07, 2007 at St. John’s Hospice. He was born on May 8, 1926 in Westfield, Illinois, the son of Earl and Margaret Hutchinson Snyder. He married Joyce Senteney in 1952 in Mattoon. Ralph joined the community of Springfield in 2000 and was formerly a resident of Urbana for thirty-five years. He was U.S. WWII Navy Veteran, serving in Acorn Unit 52 and was responsible for beginning the Acorn 52 Reunion Committee. He served as car inspector for the Illinois Central Rail Road for thirty-eight years until his retirement in 1988. He then worked for Avis Car Rental for seventeen years from 1989 to 2006. He was a member of West Side Christian Church and was a member of their T N T Sunday School Class. Ralph held many memberships with various organizations including American Legion Post 71 of Urbana, VFW Post #630 of Urbana, Ansar Shrine Center of Springfield, Scottish Rite Valley of Danville and he was also a 32nd Degree Mason at Western Star Lodge #240 on Champaign. He enjoyed fixing things and was good handyman. He also loved to follow Illini sports teams and the Chicago Cubs. Ralph was a very loving, hardworking and compassionate family man, who enjoyed lending a helping hand to others. Ralph is survived by his wife, Joyce Snyder of Springfield; one son, GySgt. Steven R. Snyder, U.S.M.C. Retired and wife, Connie, of Euless TX; one daughter, Cheryl Snyder, of Springfield; one grandson, James M. Snyder of Westville, IL; two sisters: Mary Williams of Des Moines, IA and Velma Perry of Casey, IL and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son: Larry J. Snyder of St. Louis MO; two brothers: Frank Snyder and Jim Snyder of CA and two sisters: Elizabeth Lang of Ashmore IL and Josephine Lacy of Glen Ellyn IL. Cremation accorded by the Cremation Tribute Center, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. A Memorial Ceremony will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2007 at West Side Christian Church, 2850 Cider Mill Lane, Springfield. A second Memorial Ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2007 at Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church in Urbana. Memorial contributions may be made to: Illinois Symphony Orchestra, 524 ½ East Capitol Avenue, Springfield, Illinois 62701 or Shriners’ Hospital for Children, Chicago, 2211 North Oak Park Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60707. The family of Ralph E. Snyder is being served by Lincoln Land Cremation Society, 917 S. 7th St. Springfield.