Harold Snowdon Sr.

H arold C. Snowdon Sr., 93, of Dallas, and Gulf Stream, Fla., died Thursday morning at his home in Florida.
Born in West Pittston on Oct. 26, 1913, he was the son of the late J. William and Georgia (Mosier) Snowdon.
He was a 1931 graduate of West Pittston High School, attended Pennsylvania State University and was a graduate of Eckles Mortuary College, Philadelphia.
As a licensed funeral director since 1934, Harold’s career spanned over 60 years. Following in the footsteps of his father, who established Snowdon Funeral Home in 1908, he served his funeral internship under the direction of his late uncle, Howard J. Snowdon Sr., of Scranton. In 1936, he established the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home on North Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre. In the years to follow, Harold’s dedication to his profession and community brought the expansion of Snowdon Funeral Home. In 1955, he established a location on Wyoming Avenue, Kingston; in 1965 opened the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, Shavertown; and most recently he oversaw the expansion of Snowdon Funeral Homes to the corner of Machell Avenue and Memorial Highway, Dallas.
Even in his later years, Harold remained active in the operation of the funeral homes, serving as company chairman and supervisor of the Wilkes-Barre location.
His professional memberships included the Luzerne County Funeral Directors Association, Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association.
He was a former member of the First United Methodist Church, Wilkes-Barre, where he served on the board of trustees. He is a current member of the Shavertown United Methodist Church.
Harold is a member of Masonic Lodge 395, F. & A.M., Kingston; Irem Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., Wilkes-Barre; the Caldwell Consistory, Bloomsburg; and the Westmoreland Club, Wilkes-Barre.
He was formerly active with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Wilkes-Barre Rotary Club and served on the board of directors of the former West Side Bank, West Pittston, now Bank of America.
He was preceded in death by his grandson, Harold C. (Hal) Snowdon III, in January 2006.
Surviving are his wife of 49 years, the former Evelyn Bush, Dallas, and Gulf Stream, Fla.; sons Harold C. Snowdon Jr. and his wife, Patricia, Shavertown; Richard W. Snowdon, Dallas; daughter Jane S. Jones and her husband, attorney Benjamin, Dallas; grandchildren Tracy L. Snowdon, Harveys Lake; Brent W. Snowdon and his wife, Jill (Hockenbury) Snowdon, Plains Township; Benjamin Jones IV, Lake Harmony; Dylan Jones, Washington D.C.; Tudor Jones, New York City; great-grandchildren, Corey Snowdon Muller, Harveys Lake; Alexander Snowdon Muller, Harveys Lake; and William George Snowdon, Plains Township.
Harold loved his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, community and profession. After a life well-lived and a fulfilling professional career, his only regret would have been just missing the Snowdon Funeral Homes 100th anniversary, to be celebrated in 2008.
The Snowdon family will receive friends on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, 140 N. Main St., Shavertown.
Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family with entombment in the mausoleum of Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Carverton.
Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.