Ira Snell III

Obituary of Ira Snell III

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In Loving Memory of Ira Snell, III

Ira Snell, III of Columbia, Maryland departed this earthly life on February 26, 2026, to join our Holy Father in Heaven. Born on June 18, 1965, in Munich, Germany, to Ira Snell, Jr and Gertie Snell he was a man who lived life with an open heart and a ready punchline. To know Ira was to know laughter. He had a rare gift for finding the humor in any situation, and he never met a stranger he couldn't make smile. Whether with a perfectly timed joke or a wild story from his childhood, his joy was infectious and his kindness was boundless.

Ira graduated from Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Maryland in 1983 where he played football, participated in student government, and working as a camp counselor was one of his favorite summer jobs. As an Army brat, Ira spent his youth traveling the country from coast to coast, learning to adapt to many new schools, new friends, and new environments. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree at Howard University's School of Business where he was also a graduate from the Army ROTC program. Upon graduation from Howard University, Ira went on to found and serve as CEO for Snell Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) and S4 Analytics, LLC, two successful Information Technology (IT) Support Services companies spanning 30 years. His businesses provided a comprehensive suite of IT solutions, specializing in advanced program management, cybersecurity, strategic data analytics, web services… earning him a number of recognitions and performance awards in the industry. While Ira has a list of impressive business success, if you asked him, he would tell you his crowning accomplishment was his son, Ira IV (Champ). He gave his very best to Champ, who was truly his pride and joy. He leaves a legacy of being a loving, supportive brother and with a son's devoted heart, Ira was a reliable anchor for his parents, never hesitating to step in when needed as they aged. One of his favorite gestures of love was bringing his Mom and Dad glazed donuts and hot chocolate in the morning.

A man of deep faith, Ira made his service to the Lord a cornerstone of his life. He prioritized his roles within the church, serving faithfully as a Deacon, a member of "The Voices of Inspiration" choir, and dedicated himself to the next generation as a Charter Youth Mentor in the St. John Baptist Church Mentor Program. Ira found great joy in sharing his faith and the love of Christ with others.

Additionally, Ira was a member of the Columbia chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and for Ira, golf was more than just a game; it was a way to create memories with his buddies, although his all-time favorite playing partner was his son Champ! His annual out-of-state golf trip with the fellas was undoubtedly one of the highlights of his summers. You can ask Richard Shepherd about those trips. Whether it was on a lake, riverbank or out on a boat, fishing with his dad was another favorite past time that gave him great joy. Ira was also a skilled skier, eventually reaching the impressive ability to tackle the "black diamond" slopes with his brother-in-law, Andre. During football season Ira and Champ rarely missed a Washington Commanders home game for which he held season tickets for years. Georgetown University basketball games was another favorite outing for the two of them. One of Ira's hidden talents was to make everyone's phone notifications delicious. He was known to text pictures of his gourmet dishes to the family eventually earning him the title, "Master Chef" and Ira's green thumb and love for plants was evident by all of the beautiful foliage in his home.

Above all, Ira cherished his family and friends, leaving behind a legacy of love that will continue to warm our hearts. He leaves to cherish his memory his son Ira Snell, IV; father Ira Snell, Jr.; mother Gertie Snell; brother and sister-in-law Drs. Anthony M. Snell and Cynthia; sister and brother-in-law Angie F. Levrone and Andre; brother-in-law Keith Freese; nieces Raquel and Kavetta, II (Veve); nephews Andre Jr., Lonny (Pud), and Danny; uncle Dave, cousin Eric and a host of other cousins who will forever miss the light he brought into every room. He was preceded in death by sister Kavetta J. Freese.

In honor and in celebration of Ira's life, the family humbly requests that from this day forward, each of you intentionally look for opportunities to perform acts of kindness and use humor to lighten and redirect tense moments.

A viewing for Mr. Snell will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Vaughn Greene Funeral Services, 8728 Liberty Road Randallstown, MD 21133.

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, a homegoing celebration for Mr. Ira Snell III will be held at St. Johns Baptist Church, 9055 Tamar Drive Columbia, MD 21045, where the family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. with services to follow.

Immediately following services, the Interment will be held at Columbia Memorial Park Cemetery.

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