Robert "Bob" F. Snyder

Robert (“Bob”) Francis Snyder was born in Ames, Iowa, on July 16, 1918, and died February 6, 2016, in Twin Falls, Idaho. He grew up in Moscow, Idaho, the oldest son of Robert S. Snyder and Eva Mae Snyder. He was a youngster with diverse interests and aptitudes. He became an Eagle Scout, and was a Master Councilor of DeMolay. He was a skilled track athlete, and he was the “first chair” clarinet player in the school band as well as a charter member of the top local pep band. And, he was very accomplished academically. He was aided in that endeavor by a father who happened to be a college chemistry professor and Dean of the School of Agriculture at the university.

He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1941, earning three bachelor’s degrees. The degree he considered his crowning academic achievement was in Journalism. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. At the University, he met and married Evelyn Gale Williams. Upon graduation, he volunteered for military service in World War II and served in the United States Army Air Corp from 1942 to 1946, attaining the rank of Captain. During his service his first daughter, Lindagale, was born. When the war ended, Bob and Evelyn promptly returned to Idaho, to raise their family, and Bob looked for a career to support that family.

They started in Boise. Bob took the first opportunity to test out his journalism education and became a newspaper reporter, first for the Caldwell Tribune and then for the Idaho Statesman. But they needed something more to support their quickly growing family, as a son was on the way. Bob also had a long standing desire to own his own business, and news of a business opportunity led them to Twin Falls in 1946, where a son William Robert was born. By 1950, he became a partner in a long standing typewriter business known as the Sherwood Typewriter Exchange. Shortly thereafter, Bob bought out his partner and grew a typewriter business into Snyder’s Office Equipment Co. He successfully operated that business for more than 50 years, while business equipment evolved from manual devices made entirely with steel components, machines with slick plastic shells full of mostly electronic components, and finally to the age of computers that would replace most of the earlier equipment.

Bob immediately became an integral member of the postwar business community of Twin Falls, but he was also involved with and supported many other social, educational and community endeavors of Twin Falls. He was a life-long member of Rotary International and achieved Sergeant of Arms at the district and national level and President of the Twin Falls Rotary Club in 1955. He was a member of the Church of the Ascension Episcopal Church and was a vestry member and a lay reader and was very proud of those roles. He was a charter member of the Blue Lakes Country Club, and a playing member for more than 50 years. He supported the Twin Falls School system in many capacities and was a booster of its teams and extra circular activities; he was also a strong advocate of the College of Southern Idaho, and a long contributing member of the Twin Falls Public Library. And he was certainly a Vandal booster.

Bob and Evelyn had three children, Lindagale, William Robert and Julie Marie. Bob was a good father and like most postwar fathers, believed strongly that his primary job was to be a provider for his family. He also believed strongly in education, and he made sure his children were able to go to college; he also made sure all of his offspring understood the value of that opportunity. As a testament to his educational spirit and guidance, his children and his four grandchildren have amassed six undergraduate degrees and four post college graduate degrees.

And there was golf. Golf was a very important part of Bob’s life. He believed that the game required discipline and commitment, and he believed you have to count them all. He believed that golf brought out character and integrity in all players, and most of his best friends were friends from golf. When he finally outlived all of his playing partners at the Blue Lakes Country Club, he joined the Jerome Country Club, where he developed a special playing bond with David King and a more special friendship with David and his wife Cathy. Together, they extended his golf playing career, and the family recognizes and thanks them for making this latter part of Bob’s life, special and privileged. Bob shot his age many times at the Jerome course, and he would want everyone to know that he bettered his age two times in October of 2015 at the tender age of 97.

Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother Richard Snyder, his lifelong companion, wife and first and only love, Evelyn and by his daughter Julie Marie who tragically died in 1980. He is survived by his daughter Lindagale and her husband Peter Dube of Chantilly, Virginia, and by his son William and his wife Dianne of Boise, Idaho, and by his grandchildren, Jeffrey Dube, Jennifer Burgos, Nicholas Dube, and Nicole Pierce and by eight great-grandchildren.

Celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension with Pastor Deb Seles officiating. Military honors by the Magic Valley Honor Guard and Idaho National Guard. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. A viewing for family and friends will take place on Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at White Mortuary, 136 4th Ave. East, Twin Falls. Services are under the direction of White Mortuary, Chapel by the Park, Twin Falls.

Contributions may be given to the University of Idaho, the Twin Falls Public Library or your favorite charity, in memory of Robert F. Snyder.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.whitemortuary.com.