Herbert W. Snyder

Herbert (Herb) Snyder ? 83 - of Cooperstown, PA went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday. He died at the Golden Living Center in Oil City on Friday, June 28th after a long battle with cancer and other significant health issues. Herb had only recently been admitted to the Golden Living Center after an emergency admission at UPMC on June 17th from a spine injury suffered at home.

Herb was born at home on November 3, 1929 to Lee Verne Snyder and Clara DeLong Snyder of Cooperstown. He was the youngest of five children raised on the family farm outside of Cooperstown from age 11, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a 1947 graduate of Cochranton High School where he enjoyed singing and was known as ?the Senior Frank Sinatra?. He was an excellent actor and member of the Dramatics Club. As an avid sportsman, he enjoyed playing many sports including varsity basketball and baseball in high school and was a regular on company and community softball teams. He also enjoyed times of hunting and fishing with his family.

Following high school graduation, Herb went to work at Franklin Steel for a few years. He married Peggy Jean Reagle, daughter of Ralph Reagle and Lottie Hays Reagle of Utica on July 29, 1949. They enjoyed a full and happy life together, raising seven children near and on the Snyder family farm where they resided after his mother?s death in 1974. In 1952, Herb went to work alongside his father and brother at the Amalie Refinery in Franklin, where he worked until it was destroyed by a fire in 1970. In 1971, he was hired by Joy Manufacturing and retired as a Supervisory Burning Machine Operator in 1994.

Herb was elected as a Jackson Township Supervisor in 1965. He was re-elected for multiple terms and served as a township supervisor from 1966 to 1983. Other significant community service revolved around many years in various adult leadership roles for local 4-H Clubs as all of his children showed horses at county, district and state shows.

Herb also dreamed of running a self-sufficient farm and had dairy cows, beef cattle, and show horses over the years as well as other farm animals. Much of the family?s food supply came from what was raised and grown on the farm. Herb loved taking care of his farm and his animals as he raised his family, singing snippets of songs to the animals and children alike. An avid reader, he could often be found reading his Louis L?Amour books over and over as he watched sports or westerns on television. A consummate sports fan, he rooted for his Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates in good years and bad. Herb was proud of his family, and enjoyed the many visits from his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always giving tractor rides, talking about family history, and continuing to sing those snippets of songs to them when they came for visits to the farm.

Herb was preceded in death by his daughter Susan M. Currier, his granddaughter Alyson, his parents, Lee Verne and Clara Snyder, brothers Edwin and Leighton Snyder and sister Kathryn Proper. He is survived by his wife of nearly 64 years, Peggy Reagle Snyder of Cooperstown; sister Lillian Snyder Carson of Franklin; and sons Stephen Douglas Snyder (wife Marcia) of Carlisle, PA; Randy William Snyder (wife Judi) of Apalachin, NY; Craig Allen Snyder of Cooperstown; Michael Scott Snyder Sr. (wife Heide) of Fredericksburg, VA; Edwin Sheridan Snyder II (wife Laura) of Vine Grove, KY; and Peter James Snyder (wife Julie) of Cochranton; and son-in-law Christopher Currier (widower of Susan) of Clemmons, NC. Known as Grandpa by some and Papa by others, he is also survived by his 16 grandchildren Benjamin, Jessica, Shelby, Chelsea, Ashley, Adam, Michael Jr., Karl, Kurtis, Amber, Dustin, Lindsay, Aubrianna, Amanda, Zachary, and Christen, 11 great-grandchildren and many nephews, nieces, other extended family, and his dog ?Jake?.

He was a member of Cooperstown United Methodist Church where a memorial service will be held at a date and time to be announced.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cooperstown United Methodist Church or other charity.

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the Huff Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 312 West Park St. Franklin.