Edward John Snyder Jr.

Edward John Snyder Jr.
ALBEMARLE -- Edward John Snyder, Jr. died March 30, 2010. Mr. Snyder was born August 26, 1932 in Flushing, New York and grew up in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. He was graduated from St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts in 1950. He interrupted his college education at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana to serve in the U.S. Army during the closing dates of the Korean conflict. In 1958, he graduated from Lowell Technical Institute in Lowell, Massachusetts, now the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, with a degree in Textile Engineering. After graduation, he moved to Albemarle, North Carolina to join E.J. Snyder and Company. In 1966, Mr. Snyder became president of the Commission Dyeing and Finishing Company, which was begun by Edward John Snyder Sr. For almost fifty years, with Ed as president and his brothers Roger and Mike as vice presidents, E.J. Snyder and Sons, Inc. was a viable force in business and industry.
Mr. Snyder was president of the Albemarle Jaycees, a director of the Albemarle Rotary Club, president of the Albemarle-Stanly County Chamber of Commerce, president of the United Way of Stanly County, vice chairman of the board of trustees of the Stanly County Memorial Hospital, and president of the Stanly County YMCA.
In his service to business and industry, Mr. Snyder was a director and member of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association, president of the Stanly County Manufacturers Association, a director of the Stanly County Community Development corporation, and of the Stanly County Industrial Development Commission.
Mr. Snyder's service to community college education included his chairmanship of the Stanly Community College Board of Trustees, and the development of a learning resource center known as the Snyder Building at SCC. He was chairman of the foundation board of SCC and served on the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. In 2008, Mr. Snyder was named the Southeastern Regional winner of the CRD Benefactor Award by the Council on Resource Development for all community colleges in the nation.
For eight years, Mr. Snyder served on the board of trustees of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. During his tenure as trustee, he was chairman of the Development and University Relations Committee, chairman of the Nominating Committee, a member of the Personnel Committee, a member of the Executive Committee, and a director of the UNCC Foundation Board.
Mr. Snyder also served on the board of directors of Pfeiffer University as a trustee of the Dore Academy in Charlotte, as a director of the Community Care Clinic, now the John P. Murray Clinic, in Albemarle, and as a director of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.
For his support of education, public and private, for his leadership in business and industry, for his care for his community, for his work in behalf of public health and for his commitment to families, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte awarded Edward John Snyder Jr. the honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service on May 15, 2004.
Mr. Snyder was predeceased by his parents, Edward John Snyder and Margaret Casey O'Brien Snyder, and by his brothers, George Bruce Snyder and Roger Francis Snyder.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Lake Inman Snyder and son, Edward John Snyder III; brother, Michael Ernest Snyder and wife, Karen; sister-in-law, Margaret Snyder; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.
The family of Mr. Snyder will receive March 31, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle. The funeral will be conducted by the very Reverend Peter L. Fitzgibbons V.F. at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church on April 1, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Stanly Gardens of Memory. Pallbearers will be Chris Snyder, Carson Snyder, Joseph Snyder, Michael Snyder Jr., Brian Snyder, 'Whit' Whitley and William Leffler.
Memorials may be made to the Annunciation Catholic Church, 416 North Second Street or to the Stanly Community College Foundation, 141 College Drive, Albemarle, North Carolina 28001.
Military honors graveside will be provided by Albemarle-Stanly County DAV Chapter 12.
Online obituary and condolences at www.hartsellfh.com.