Barney Snead

Barney Lee Snead ROCKINGHAM - Barney Lee "B.L." Snead, 94, died Sunday, Aug. 30, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born June 17, 1915, in Richmond County, the eldest son of the late Barney Lee and Elizabeth McKay Snead. As a charter member of the "Greatest Generation," he served his country in the Navy during World War II and in the Naval Reserve after the war. He worked at Little Creek Amphibious Base repairing landing craft throughout the war. Later while working for the Naval civil service in Norfolk as a master carpenter, he often worked on the docks all night as a Stevedore. He built a home for his family in Virginia Beach in 1954, and resided there until he and Oneita, his wife of 66 years both retired, where upon they moved back to Rockingham. The family will receive friends today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Watson-King Funeral Home, Rockingham. A funeral will be conducted Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 11 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church of Rockingham with the Rev. Dwight Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery. Surviving are his wife, Oneita Hancock Snead of the home; son, Col. Ronald Snead and wife Susan of Winston-Salem; daughter, Jan Swisher and husband Steve; grandchildren, Holly Barrett and husband Bobby, Ian Swisher and Sam Swisher, all of Dunbar, W.Va.; great-grandchildren, Hope Sealy and Daniel Barrett; sister, Billie Preslar; nephew, Billie Ray Beaman and wife Sally; and his favorite singing fireman, Matt Poff. Memorials may be made to Richmond County Hospice, 1119 N. US No. 1 Hwy., Rockingham, NC 28379. Online condolences may be made at www.watson-kingfuneralhome.com.