Phyllis Gunter Snyder

Phyllis Jane Gunter Snyder, 87, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 31st, surrounded by her loving family. Phyllis was born in Gadsden, Alabama, and grew up in Anniston, Alabama. She attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1953. Phyllis earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Tulane University, in New Orleans, LA in 1955.

Upon graduation from Tulane, Phyllis moved to Nashville, TN, and worked as a social worker for burn patients at Vanderbilt Hospital. While working in the Vanderbilt Hospital, a 4th year medical student named William Snyder asked to borrow her pencil. Six months later, Phyllis and William (aka Willie or Bill) were married. The pair celebrated 62 years of marriage December of 2018.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her loving husband William Bradford Snyder MD, her mother Rose Lee Gunter, father Loy Gunter, sisters Rose Gunter Faulkner and Betty Gunter Stroup. Survivors include her children William Bradford Snyder, Jr. (wife Kathy), Claudia Snyder Ferrara (husband Rick), Clayton Rollins Snyder, Jane Snyder Fitzpatrick and grandchildren William Snyder, III, Michael Fitzpatrick, Quinn Fitzpatrick, and Margaret Fitzpatrick and her nieces, nephews and friends Carolyn York and Michael & Robyn Rudberg.

Phyllis was committed to raising her four children and to her husband’s career. She volunteered her time with multiple organizations including Dallas Services for the Blind, The Dallas Regional Science Fair, Dallas Intergroup Association, and The Magdalen House.

Phyllis and her husband shared a love of promoting education. They were very generous with endowments to Huntingdon College, Tulane University, University of Iowa and Vanderbilt University. The pair supported the renovation of the campus ministries building at Huntingdon College which was renamed the Phyllis Gunter Snyder Center for Campus Ministries. Out of their deep love for the university where they met, the Snyders endowed a Chair and an annual lectureship at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute.

Phyllis passed away with continuous sobriety just shy of 40 years. She worked with countless women and was devoted to her program of recovery. For many years, she was a regular attendee at a Friday noon meeting where she affectionately earned the nickname of “Friday Phyllis”. She will be remembered for her graciousness, wisdom, and experience. She shared her strength and hope with so many.

The family would like to express gratitude to the special friends who brought recovery meetings to their mother when she was no longer able to attend. The family would also like to thank all of the caregivers who assisted Mrs. Snyder during her final years.

The Snyder family will welcome visitors from 6 PM until 8 PM on Friday, June 7, 2019, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas. A memorial service will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, June 8, 2019, at Sparkman/Hillcrest with a reception to follow. Everyone is welcome!

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Magdalen House (magdalenhouse.org 214.764.0793) or the Retina Foundation of the Southwest (retinafoundation.org 214.363.3911).