Harold W. Snyder

Harold W. Snyder, 91, died December 26, 2015 at Brewster Health Care Center, Topeka. He was born in Topeka on March 5, 1924, the son of Ralph and Vesta (Kinyon) Snyder, and attended Topeka schools. After graduation from Topeka High School in 1942, he went to work in the Treasurer's office of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway as an office boy. During World War II he served in the Army Air Force with service in the South Pacific as a radar technician. He then attended and graduated from Kansas State University and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. He also attended the University of Oregon and the Santa Fe Institute of Business Economics at the University of Southern California. While at K-State he met Merline Nutter. They were married June 6, 1948 in Peabody, Kansas. Merline preceded him in death in 2010 after sixty-two happy years of marriage. Harold worked his entire career for Santa Fe, retiring in 1986 as the Secretary and Treasurer. While employed by the railroad he was a member of the Treasury Division of the Association of American Railroads and held several offices in that organization. Harold and Merline were avid K-State fans, and for many years were season ticket holders for both football and basketball. They attended many K-State bowl games. Harold was a member of the American Legion and the Topeka Chamber of Commerce, as well as a longtime member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, having served as elder and church treasurer.

Survivors include a son, Richard and his wife Gay of Edmond, Oklahoma; granddaughters Dr. Laura Bode (Adam) and Katie Snyder and great granddaughter Evangeline Bode, all of Tulsa, Oklahoma; daughter Jan Arnold and her husband Dave of Lenexa, Kansas; granddaughter Lindsey Arnold Seevers (Gary) of Springfield, Missouri and grandson Nate Arnold of Chicago, Illinois. He is also survived by a brother, Marvin, of Overland Park, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Merline; and a brother, Warren.

Harold's family would like to thank the staff at Brewster Place for the excellent care he received.

Memorial service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 2 at 10 a.m. Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Brewster Place Foundation, 1205 S.W. 29th Street, Topeka, KS 66611.