Kenneth Lee Snyder

© Alva Review-Courier

05-12-2015

Submitted by: Glenn

Kenneth Lee Snyder, son of Fred Eugene and Clina Lorene (Yohn) Snyder, was born on June 23, 1930, in Alva, Oklahoma. He passed away at the Veteran’s Center in Claremore, Oklahoma on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at the age of 84 years, 11 months, and 12 days.

Kenneth lived with his parents and helped raise chickens and milk cows on his grandfather’s farm which was one mile west of Hopeton, Oklahoma. Ken was raised during his young years while Oklahoma was experiencing the famous drought coined the “Dust Bowl” or “Dirty Thirties.’ This was during the great depression and the region was drought-stricken until it ended in 1937 when Kenneth was only 7 years old. Following that time, the family then sowed wheat and realized successful harvests, enough for the family to become debt-free.

On April 19, 1939, while the family was sleeping, a tornado swept through the northwestern part of Hopeton, destroying everything in its path. The tornado blew the family home everywhere, including the children. Fortunately, everyone escaped serious injury however Kenneth told stories of his parents finding him lying in a field and they had to pick wheat and other small pieces of debris out of his back with tweezers. Due to their home being gone, his parents rented another farm and Kenneth helped on the farm with his brother’s Eugene Fred and Cecile L.

Upon leaving high school, Kenneth joined the Army National Guard of Oklahoma on September 23, 1947 and was ordered into active military service, 45 th Signal Core, on September 01, 1950 and served until he was honorably discharge on September 7, 1951. His service took him to Japan during the Korean War. He also served in the Air National Guard and received an honorable discharge on January 21, 1959 and United States Air Force and received an honorable discharge on October 11, 1959.

Kenneth loved his plants, guns, cooking, raising a few heads of calves each year and enjoyed living at home until his health failed in the last few months.

Kenneth married three times during his life and had five children. Initially to Dorothy Ann and had three children, Alan Rey, Kathleen Mcminnville, and Brett. Again to Geneva Rasolene Alexander and had two children, Geneva Leanna Baxter and Kimberly Sue Sheridan. Lastly to Louise E. Clinkenbeard and there were no children born.

Kenneth was preceded in death by one son, Brett Snyder; one sister, Betty L. Williams; and his parents Fred Eugene and Clina Lorene (Yohn).

Kenneth is survived by his brothers Eugene F. and his wife Ann, Tulsa, Cecil L., Bartlesville; four children, Alan Rey, Kathleen (Snyder) Mcminnville, Brett, Geneva Leanna (Snyder) Baxter, and Kimberly Sue (Snyder) Sheridan; and one grandchild.

Graveside services will be Friday, May 15, 2015, at 1 p.m. at the Alva Municipal Cemetery with Reverend Ron Pingelton officiating.

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