James "Dan" Snider

1945 - 2024

U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant James "Dan" Snider, age 78, passed away peacefully at his home on Jan. 18, 2024. Dan was a decorated veteran who served in the Vietnam War and spent 26 years on active duty.
While in the Marine Corps, he was stationed in Vietnam, Des Moines, El Toro, Bermuda, Barstow, Okinawa and Twentynine Palms. While serving in the Marine Corps, he established the Military Family Service Centers in Barstow, California, and Camp Butler in Okinawa, Japan.
Dan was born on Nov. 28, 1945, in Kentucky, to his parents, James H. Snider and Mary "Chris" Helliker. He spent his childhood loved by his Aunt Rosie and Uncle Rich, his Grandma Self, Uncle Earl and Aunt Joy.
When he was 18, Dan fulfilled his childhood dream and joined the Marine Corps, following in the footsteps of his beloved Uncle Earl.
Dan's final duty station was with C&E at the Marine Corps Air & Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. Upon his retirement, he worked for Robinson-May as head of security and then with Superior Automotive as a service writer.
Earlier in his Marine Corps career, while stationed at the recruiting station in Des Moines, he met his beloved wife and life partner, Martha. They married on Nov. 28, 1968. Martha and Dan created a family of eight children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His love knew no bounds as he welcomed and provided safe harbor to 13 foster children.
When Dan wasn't working, Dan enjoyed reading, fishing, hunting and camping. Dan was a faithful Catholic and a congregation member at Blessed Sacrament Church in Twentynine Palms for 35 years. After relocating to Joshua Tree in 2019, he joined the congregation of St. Mary of the Valley in Yucca Valley. His greatest joy in life was his family. He was a devoted husband, a loving father to his children, and an adoring grandfather to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dan was predeceased by his mother, Chris Derrik, Grandmother Self, aunts Rosie and Joy and uncles Earl and Rich.
He is survived by his wife, Martha; his children, Kiela (Jesus), Daniele (John), Kristie (Travis), James, Elmil, Shakira, Ethan and Anna Marie; his grandchildren, Sophia (Jeff), Samantha (Isaac), Abraham, Aaron, Kristofer (Haydee), Roselynn (Taylor), Travis (Megan), Patrick (Kiersten), Zoey, Dorothea and Alyah; his great-grandchildren, Ryan, Abraham, Damian, Bennett, Kinsley and Simon; and his sisters Evelyn, Ethel, Christine and Georgene.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. March 7 at St. Mary of the Valley in Yucca Valley with internment at 1:30 p.m. March 8 at the Riverside National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Retirement Fund for the Religious at National Religious Retirement Office, P.O. Box 96988, Washington, DC 20090-6988 or online through this website: shareinthecare.org/content.100013.donate.