Dr. Willard A. Snyder

Willard Snyder was born on July 8, 1927 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He graduated from Tuscaloosa High School and attended the University of Alabama where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. His college career was interrupted by service in the United States Army at the end of World War II. He served for 18 months in the Occupation Forces on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. He returned to the University of Alabama where he completed his B.S. degree and earned an M.S. degree in Biology.

While in college, he met his lifelong partner, Virginia Moore Holley. Willard and Virginia were married on August 25, 1951 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The couple moved to Waycross, Ga. where Willard’s first job was with Wyeth Pharmaceutical as a pharmaceutical representative.

In 1955 he decided to pursue a lifelong dream to become a doctor, graduating with an M.D. degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1959. After post-graduate work in Columbus, Ga., Willard and Virginia moved to Brunswick in 1961 where he entered a general medicine practice with Drs. Inman, Hunt and Mercer. Dr. Snyder served as president of the Glynn County Medical Society and was instrumental in developing the Medical Intensive Care Unit at the Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital where he was medical chief of staff. Dr. Snyder practiced family medicine until his retirement in 1991.

After retirement, Dr. Snyder enjoyed fishing, golf and taking care of his grandchildren whenever possible. Dr. Snyder was a member of the Rotary Club of St. Simons and the Attitude Adjustment Group. He served as an elder in both the First Presbyterian Church of Brunswick and the St. Simons Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Snyder is survived by his wife, Virginia Holley Snyder; daughter, Susan Snyder Reeves of St. Simons Island; and sons, Willard Alexander Snyder, Jr., M.D. (Carol) of Brunswick and David Claude Snyder, M.D. (Ellen) of Atlanta. Dr. Snyder was blessed with six beloved grandchildren, Holley Reeves of St. Simons Island, Emma Snyder and Will Snyder of Brunswick and Laura Snyder, Mary Beth Snyder and Matt Snyder of Atlanta.

Visitation with the family will be Monday, September 24, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Edo Miller and Sons. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the St. Simons Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Hospice of the Golden Isles or St. Simons Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home, www.edomillerandsons.com .