Edith Snyder O'Brien

O’Brien, Edith Yvonne Snyder, 84, of Richmond, Va., died on December 21, 2013. Edith was born June 26, 1929 in Denver, Colo., the daughter of Henry and Vienna Snyder. She graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Okla., and received a B.

S. from Oklahoma Baptist University and an M.S. in microbiology from the University of Texas, Galveston. She married Dr. Larry Joe O’Brien on December 27, 1953, Lubbock, Texas. A beloved science and Sunday school teacher in Augusta, Ga., and Lubbock, Edith loved the study of living things and shared her passion for education with all around her. In addition to her large family and dear friends, she particularly loved cooking, playing games, pugs, and turtles. Her gentle spirit and notorious sense of humor will be sorely missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her loving husband, Joe of Richmond; daughters, Susan Gray and husband Donald of Santa Fe, N.M., Caryn Taylor of West Linn, Ore., and Judith O’Brien of Richmond; grandchildren, Andrea Gray of Charlottesville, Va., Leslie Taylor of Richmond, Jay Robert Taylor, III of Portland, Ore., Ryan Gray of Big Water, Utah, and Sunni O’Brien of Richmond; great-grandchildren, Jay Robert Taylor, IV, and Corbin Taylor of Portland; and siblings, Alvin Snyder of San Antonio, Texas, Richard Snyder of Leesburg, Va., and William Snyder of Prosper, Texas. She was predeceased by her sister, Geraldine Whealy. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, December 30, at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, Richmond. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Richmond chapter.