Hazel Marie Hoover Snyder

She was born in French Creek, West Virginia to O.B. and Zoe Darnall Hoover. She graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School and West Virginia Wesleyan College (1940) with a B.S. in Chemistry. During WWII, she was the first female chemist hired by Carbide & Carlson Chemical Co. (Union Carbide) in Charleston, WV. She was active in library promotion helping establish a library in St. Albans, WV. She served 12 years on the Library Board in Montgomery County, MD and 5 years as chairperson. She was also active in the Friends of the Library in Milwaukee, WI and Bethesda, MD.

Hazel was a member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church. In 1964, she was the first female to be ordained as an elder at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD, where she served as President of the Presbyterian Women and held several other positions. She was an avid reader. Since 1972, she has read books by 1,467 authors and about 6,000 books.

As an avid duplicate bridge player, she was one gold point short of becoming a life master. Hazel was a life member of the American Association of University Women and active in Republican politics, having served in various positions in both the Rock Creek Woman Republican Club and Chevy Chase Women’s Club, in Chevy Chase, MD.

Her husband, Richard B. Snyder; sister, Virginia Bly Hoover; and brother, Edward B. Hoover preceded Hazel in death. She is survived by her children Gregory Snyder and his wife, Jean, of Delray Beach, FL; Morgan Snyder and his wife, Colleen, of Linden, VA; the Rev. Virginia “Gini” Campbell and her husband, Fletcher (Sandy), Campbell, Jr., of Williamsburg, VA; Edward Snyder of Willow, AK; 8 grandchildren, Melissa Snyder, Nancy, Richard and Stephen Campbell, Emmett, Alexander and Wren Snyder, and Williams Snyder; and a great grandson, Anderson Campbell.

Services will be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 11:00am at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, 215 Richmond Road, Williamsburg. The family will greet friends at a reception at the church following the service. Interment will be in French Creek, WV on Friday, June 2, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Third Presbyterian Church, 8065 Carlton Street, Norfolk, VA 23518 or the West Virginia Wesleyan College Library, 59 College Avenue, Buckhannon, WV 26201. Online condolences for the family may be expressed at www.nelsencares.com.