The Reverend Donald Lee Snyder
July 9, 1936 - September 6, 2024
The Reverend Donald Lee Snyder, age 88, of Middletown, DE went home to be with his Lord on Friday, September 6, 2024. He passed away in his home, surrounded by his loving family, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Don was born on July 9, 1936 in Mammoth, WV, the son of Charles Snyder and Pearl Carver, and the youngest brother of Albert Snyder, Mattie Young, Robert Snyder, Page Snyder, and Virginia Collins. Don spent his early years living in the coal region of West Virginia, before a mining accident forced his family to move to Hurricane, WV and open a small general store. After graduating from Hurricane High School in 1955, Don began a 16-year career with Union Carbide as a general mechanic. Enlisting in 1954, Don spent 8 years in the West Virginia Air National Guard and was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant. In 1956, Don’s daughter, Debra Dittmar (married to Lee in 1980), was born, whom he raised with his first wife, Linda Guthrie.
After dedicating his life to Christ, Don joined the Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Hurricane, WV in 1956. Across the next 15 years, Don served in various capacities within the church including the Sunday school, youth, and men’s ministry programs and also held various leadership roles, including president of the deacons and assistant pastor. Feeling called to full-time ministry, Don left his job in 1971 and began undergraduate studies at the age of 35. He graduated from West Virginia State College in 1973 with a Bachelor of Art in psychology and a minor in sociology. Don went on to attend Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in1976. While in seminary, Don also served as a student pastor at Princeton Baptist Church of Penns Neck.
In 1976, Don began his full-time work as a pastor and was called to serve at Castleton Federated Church in Castleton, VT. There, he met his wife, Sharon MacAulay, and they married on July 10, 1977. In 1981, Sharon gave birth to their son, Charles Snyder (married to Jessica in 2006). Don also served as the pastor of West Rutland United Church from 1979 to 1986. After ministering in the greater Castleton area for 10 years, Don was called to serve at First Congregational Church of West Brattleboro in Brattleboro, VT. Having then served nearly 20 years in the Green Mountain State, Don was called in 1995 to serve at Numidia Charge, which included St. Paul’s United Church of Christ (now known as Numidia Valley Bible Fellowship) in Numidia, PA and Grace Reformed in Millgrove, PA. Throughout much of Don’s years of ministry, he also served as a chaplain at various locations, including may years with hospice. Don retired from full-time ministry on June 26, 2005. He loved ministry and was known as a compassionate and caring pastor who never met a stranger.
Outside of serving the Lord and the members of his various congregations, Don also enjoyed vegetable gardening, fishing, family camping, and carpentry. Across his life, Don had the opportunity to construct two homes, the first in Hurricane, WV, and then later in Castleton, VT. Don also loved spending time with his family, and he particularly enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren, Krista Scott (married to Nick in 2019), Connor Dittmar (married to Krissha in 2019), Cameron Dittmar, Victoria Snyder, Alexandria Snyder, and Carson Snyder. Don also had one great grandchild, Nora Scott. He is also survived by his niece, Sheila Lively, and several other nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Don’s Celebration of Life service will begin at 11 am on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at Grace Reformed, 1 Pension Street, Catawissa, PA 17820. A recording will be available following the service at “Grace UCC Millgrove” on Facebook. Guests are invited to join the family at Ponduce Farms Restaurant for lunch following the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be sent to one of the following churches: Castleton Federated Church, PO Box 57, Castleton, VT 05735; First Congregational Church of West Brattleboro, PO Box 2389, Brattleboro, VT 05303; Grace Reformed, at the address listed above; Numidia Valley Bible Fellowship, 42 Ringtown Mountain Road, Catawissa, PA 17820.
Marsh & Cindy Hudson-Knapp
It was so precious to visit with Sharon today. The Hudson-Knapps and the Snyders have walked through hard and happy times together and Don’s deeply loving presence has been an immeasurable gift through all of them. Sharon too! Don embodied Jesus to so many people and groups throughout his life, always wanting to be helpful, to build people, to understand. The world has been so profoundly enriched by Don Snyder I can only imagine the joy in heaven as he comes home to Jesus! The Bible says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. They will rest from their labors and their deeds will follow them.” In Don’s case those deeds go before him too! We have lost a precious friend and the impact of his life and patient love will be with us as well all though our lives. We send our love to Sharon, CW, and all the family! Marsh & Cindy
Jack Fillioe
Sharon, I am so sorry for your family’s loss. My prayers are with you.
Martha A. LaMoria
I was saddened to learn of Don’s passing. I attended the church in West B when he was pastor and grew very fond of him and Sharon. He was a wonderful friend and pastor. I shall always cherish the friendship I had with Don and Sharon. My deepest sympathy to his entire family.
Shirley Mapes
Sharon and family, Sorry for your loss of Don. I remember him when he would come into First Columbia Bank to see Sharon. I enjoyed talking to him. I worked with Sharon. He had a wonderful life and is now in Heaven with his Savior. May God bless you all with the memories he gave to you.
Frances Boudman
Pastor Snyder was a very great man and will be missed by many. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family at this time.
Rae Towsley
Sharon, so sorry for your loss. Don was a very special person.
Cindy Keener
So very sorry for your loss Sharon. Don was a kind man.
ROY A GRASSLEY
Our Deepest Sympathy to everyone on Rev. Snyders passing. He was such a wonderful person and minister, he was often in our thoughts. We had many good memories with all of you at our church in Numidia,Pa. Now our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. May our Good Lord watch over all of you and with Rev Snyder. God Bless You All
leon and glen blass
im so sorry for hearing about you pastor synder your were a nice guy let you be at peace
Sissy Teijaro
Sharon I’m so sorry for the loss of your husband Don. I always enjoyed seeing both of you at the Dutch Kitchen. Prayers and condolences to you and the family.
Pennie Wareing
To the family of Reverend Snyder,
We’ll always remember our wedding day, and for us we remember this day and the days leading to it as we, two young souls gathered with Reverend Snyder to talk about life and marriage. He was one of the kindest and loving people to help us through our first chapter. He married us on January 10, 1981 and christened our children in August and May of 1982 and 1985 at the Federated Church in Castleton Vermont. We feel very blessed to have known him and to have had him in our community. We are very sorry for your loss. God bless you all and God bless and keep Reverend Snyder.
Richard Coltey
Reverend Snyder is the greatest minister that I have ever had the pleasure to meet and call my friend. I have wonderful memories of him helping me build my house. His knowledge and experience helped me bring it all together. His wonderful nature will always be remembered. My most sincere condolences to all family and friends.
Yvette & Hunter Crose
Dear Grammy Sharon, Deb,and CW and Family
We are so saddened of the loss of Grandpop. He treated us like we were his family, we loved him so. He was a wonderful and loving man. We are going to miss him deeply. We will be praying you and the family.
Shelby Thomas
Sharon,
I’m so sorry for your loss of Don. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your Family during this sad and difficult time.
Comfort and Peace-
With deepest sympathy,
Shelby Thomas
Wendy Cooke Brown
My father was Stanley Curran who thought the world of Don. After my father passed, I received a long letter from Don expressing the fondness they had for each other. With sincere sympathy I offer my condolences to you all.
Betsy Ferguson
Don was a truly remarkable man. He gave my sister and me an extraordinary gift—affordable housing to our single mother. For 20 years, we rented the sweetest saltbox house from him in Castleton, Vermont, and in all that time, he never once raised the rent. He embodied the kindness and love that Yeshua showed to the lowliest while He walked this earth.
Instead of growing up in a trailer park, my sister and I were blessed with a safe, beautiful home, where Don always took care of us—replacing broken ovens and worn-out refrigerators. We lived a life of richness and security, all thanks to the generosity and selfless heart of this dear man. I am deeply grateful that I unexpectedly got the chance to be in Vermont in the summer of 2021 at the same time as the Snyder’s, see and thank Don and Sharon in person for the life-changing gift they gave us.
It brings me to tears to reflect on how different my life might have been at another address. Don’s kindness shaped our future in ways I can’t fully express.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, Sharon. May He make His face shine upon you, be gracious to you, turn His face toward you, and give you peace. Amen.