Charles Leon Sneed

Charles Leon Sneed, 79, passed away unexpectedly on February 24, 2025, at his home in Kilmarnock, Virginia.
Charlie was born in Bluefield, West Virginia, to Eva and Charles Luther Sneed on December 13, 1945. He grew up in Southwest Virginia and Princeton, WV, graduating Princeton High School in 1963. The following day he boarded a bus to Kentucky, where he enlisted in the United States Navy at the young age of 17, requiring his mother's consent.
In the course of Charlie's twenty-four-year career in the Navy, he became part of the Naval Security Group and was posted to various overseas locations. He was awarded a bachelor's degree from the University of West Florida and subsequently attended Officer Candidate School, graduating third in his class. He served our nation in the Navy from 1963 to 1987, retiring as a Lt. Commander.
After his retirement from the Navy, Charlie continued his career in the defense intelligence field, working for most of his second career in Northern Virginia. Later he worked for Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Virginia, retiring from that position. For several years post-retirement, Charlie taught GED classes to inmates of a maximum-security prison.
Charlie loved being posted to different places and found an interesting activity to pursue everywhere he went. As a result, he became very proficient in a number of areas. He loved music, particularly Bluegrass, and played the banjo, which led to building and restoring instruments. He loved trap and shot competitively and for pleasure at a number of gun clubs. He enjoyed archery and shot competitively in that sport, as well. He attended the Olympic Training Center in California, where he was awarded the credential of Level 4 Coach. Charlie sponsored a Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) team of boys and girls and offered certification classes, camps, and competitions for archers. In addition to the hobbies mentioned, Charlie had an overarching love of fishing. He found great pleasure fly fishing inland waterways, but his greatest passion was offshore fishing on his boat, the Donna Sea.
Dogs were a big part of Charlie's life, and in his retirement, he reveled in the company of his canine friends. He had a strong sense of responsibility for the lives and welfare of innocent creatures, including his own.
Charlie's was a life well-lived. He believed in social justice and the equality of all people. He spent the majority of his life in defense of his country and was committed to the ideals of patriotism and service. He was an honest man on whom one could always rely. He loved his friends and supported them in all things. And his family always was first.
Charlie leaves behind his wife of 33 years, Donna, of the home; a son, Kerby Dwayne Sneed (Adalia) of Norfolk; step-daughters Carol Borrelli (John) of Pasadena, MD, Catherine Harrison (Kevin) of Williamsburg, VA, and Susan DeShazer (Mac) of Lake Ridge, VA; and six beloved grandchildren - Bradley and Andrew Weddington, Zackary Borrelli, and triplets Tristan, Ainsley, and Cameron DeShazer. Also surviving him is his sister, Rita Sneed, of WV, and many beloved cousins. Charlie had a host of friends, but there were several to whom he was closest: Robert Viverette of Miller's Tavern, VA; John Guzak of Kilmarnock, VA; Owen Pepper of Virginia Beach, VA; and Leonard "Butch" Ray of Camden, NC. His life was greatly enriched by their friendship.
A celebration of Charlie's life will be held on a date to be determined. Memorial donations may be directed to the Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 975, White Stone, VA 22578, or Northern Neck Partners for Pets, P.O. Box 361, Irvington, VA 22480.