Glenn Snyder

Glenn Jacob

Snyder

Glenn Jacob Snyder, 87, of Lynchburg, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010. He was the loving, devoted husband of Donna Lou Jones Snyder for 59 years.

Born Wednesday,

Aug. 1, 1923, in Akron, Ohio, Glenn was a son of the late George Snyder and Henrietta Ley Snyder.

In addition to his wife, Glenn is survived by four children, Jack Snyder and his wife, Sally, of Richmond, Leslie Snyder, of Bedford, Adrianne O'Brien and her husband, Tony, of Palymra, and Jeffrey Snyder and his wife, Blair, of Lynchburg; seven grandchildren, Amanda Clarke, Matthew Snyder, Jessica Tanner, Erin Tutt, Addie Snyder, Ethan Snyder and Bella O'Brien; a great granddaughter, Hadley Tanner; a brother, Ted Snyder, of Akron, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Glenn was preceded in death by a sister in-law, Elsie Snyder, and a brother-in-law, Trammell Hogg.

Glenn was an enthusiastic student of science and mathematics from his earliest years. Throughout high school, he spent much of his time building working scale models in his father's machine shop, racing tether cars and flying gas-propelled homemade model airplanes. "This was long before radio-controlled planes," he would say, "You would have to walk a mile to find the good ones. The really good ones you'd never find. "

When his country called upon him to serve during World War II, he was elated that he could bring his skills and talents to help in keeping our forces mobilized and armed. He spent most of his years in the service in the Pacific with the 3498th Infantry, creating and engineering parts for weaponry and vehicles that were not available through official channels. He would fondly recount witnessing General McArthur's return to Red Beach on Leyte Island.

Following the war, the G.I. Bill made it possible for him to attend Ohio University, where he continued his study of mechanics and mathematics and graduated a professional engineer. After several years with Ohio Boxboard and Goodyear Aerospace in Akron, Glenn answered a call for engineering candidates for the formation of the Atomic Energy Division of Babcock & Wilcox. He was the only candidate from Akron that was hired and soon found himself among the leading engineers of this burgeoning industry. He followed this calling to Lynchburg in 1956, where he began work in the small offices on Fort Avenue that B&W shared with Piggly Wiggly. "We used to call it PigglyCock WigglyCox."

During his 29-year career with B&W, Glenn worked on the development of projects such as the nuclear merchant ship Savannah, and numerous nuclear power generation stations and propulsion equipment until his retirement in 1984.

Throughout his life in Lynchburg, he was an active member of Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He maintained a constant presence in service to The Lord as a Sunday school teacher, a Deacon, and an Elder. He enthusiastically spread God's Word through his longtime involvement with Gideon's International. His activities in many other organizations and societies include the American Legion Post 16, National Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He was a member and past president of Toastmasters International. As the years progressed and his energy waned, Glenn continued to volunteer at Boys State to share his wealth of experience with each successive generation.

A celebration of Glenn's life will be conducted at

11 a.m. Saturday,

Oct. 23, 2010, at Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Ron Cox officiating. Glenn will be inurned at the Old City Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church Sunday School Program, 2424 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA, 24503.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, (434) 237-9424, is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tharpfuneral

home.com.