James Lawrence Snyder

James L. Snyder passed into glory on Friday, May 25, 2018 in Williamsburg, VA. Jim was the son of the late Ira W. Snyder, Sr. and Mary Alice King Snyder and the husband of the late Mary H. Newsome Snyder. He was born in Lester, WV on April 19, 1928.

Jim was a career military veteran with a tour in the U.S. Navy in the 1945-1949 period followed by a long career in the U.S. Air Force where he served in public relations, newsman and was a radio announcer. He served throughout the world including tours at Kunsan AFB (S. Korea) and Izmir AFB (Turkey) as well as tours at several stateside USAF bases Sheppard AFB (Wichita Falls, TX) and Boling AFB (Washington, DC). After retiring from the U.S Air Force, he and wife, Mary, were residents of Toano, VA. In recent years, Jim pursued ventures in real estate, store clerking, and radio announcing. He was active in several local veteran organizations, including the Williamsburg VFW and the American Legion. In his leisure time, he enjoyed watching TV. Jim and Mary were members at Coan Baptist Church in Heathsville, VA.

In addition to his parents and wife, Mary, Jim was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters including; Kenneth, Mildred Whitt, Ira (Bud) Jr., Lillian Lusk, Jack, Lewis, Marie, and Ray; his half-brothers and sisters including Cyrus, Katharine Sprouse, Margaret Loan, Woodrow, Thelma Warwick, and Ellen Floyd. Having no children, Jim is survived by sister-in-law Patsy Newsome, brother-in-law’s Joe Newsome (Linda) and James Newsome; and by a large group of nieces and nephews of the Newsome and Snyder families.

Jim was a unique personality, fully trained by his military background. When on annual military furlough, Jim and Mary always made the rounds of the Snyder families in WV. The stories of their world-wide adventures were always interesting. Jim always had a movie camera handy (like any good newsman) and showed movies from their travels. His phone calls were infamous, i.e. crisp military approach, short, to the point, good to talk to you, thank you, goodbye. As if he was speaking to the microphone in the radio booth, no response was needed or expected, he would end the call quickly and hang up.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, June 4th at 1pm at Coan Baptist Church, 2068 Coan Stage Road, Heathsville, VA, 22473. The family requests that memorials be sent to your local military veteran charity or to the Meals on Wheels Program, 1769 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org) Online condolences for the family may be expressed at www.nelsenwilliamsburg.com.