John M. Snyder

1918 - 12

John Melvin Snyder, 89, of North Buffalo, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, en route to Armstrong County Memorial Hospital, East Franklin. He was born Dec. 30, 1918, in Altoona, to John Melvin and Lillian May (Jacobs) Snyder. In his youth, the family relocated to Hollidaysburg and John got his first job carrying ice blocks into homes for ice boxes (refrigerators) after school. In 1936, John graduated from Hollidaysburg High School and began working as a mechanic in the shops of the Penn Central Railroad. His mechanical skills were utilized in the mid-1940s by his cousins in perfecting large fryers that resulted in the establishment of a potato chip/pretzel operation that split into Snyders of Berlin and Snyders of Hanover. As part of the Hollidaysburg Church of the Brethren Sunday school class, John took part in a fateful visit to an Armstrong County farm. The class stayed at the Loyal and Florence (Kimmel) Claypool farm near Center Hill in North Buffalo Township. It was "fateful" because he met his future wife, Marie Geraldine Claypool, whom he married in 1950. He continued to work in Buffalo, N.Y., on the Penn Central Railroad for several years. In the mid-1950s, he obtained the custodian's job at North Buffalo Elementary School. He was also a member and deacon of the Center Hills Church of the Brethren. After the death of Marie in February 1964, John married her sister, Mabel Gertrude Claypool, in June 1965. With Mabel teaching at North Buffalo, they became quite a memorable "team" to the students of this elementary school. John was beloved by most of the students for his smile and gentle ways. A man of few words, he had a big heart for all and took an interest in their education. He retired from the school in the mid-1980s, but continued to raise sheep at the farm until the late 1990s, as well as a noted "chauffer" for his four grandchildren in the "Grandpamobile." John was preceded in death by his parents; sister, May; and wives, Marie G. (Claypool), in 1964, and Mabel G. (Claypool), in 2006. He is survived by his son, Melvin Clair Snyder, of Worthington; daughter, Audrey Marie (Snyder) Scahill and her husband, James V. Scahill, of Kittanning; grandchildren, Erin Marie, James V. IV., John James and Katherine Maureen. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at SNYDER-CRISSMAN FUNERAL HOME, 200 S. McKean St., Kittanning. Additional viewing will be from 1 until the time of funeral services at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Center Hill Church of the Brethren with the Rev. Dr. Wesley Berkebile, the church pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.