Charles Edward Snyder passed away in the comfort of his home on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. He was surrounded by the love and warmth of his family. Ed was 86 years young.
Ed Snyder was born in Clendenin, West Virginia on April 27, 1936 to his now deceased parents, Daniel Dale and Hetty Doris Hall Snyder. He is also predeceased by his brother, Robert Snyder (wife Nora), sisters, Betty Snyder Oliver (husband Jimmy) and Phyllis Snyder Ray (husband Richard).
Being the youngest of four children, Ed grew up with a love of fishing, Saturday matinee westerns, working on cars and playing pick-up games of basketball and baseball. When he was 12 years old, he got his first job as a stock boy at Cohen Drug Company, a small West Virginia pharmacy chain, which sparked interest that led to his future career.
Ed was a graduate of South Charleston High School, South Charleston WV, Class of 1954. He was a 1959 graduate of the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy. His was the first Pharmacy class to graduate from the new West Virginia University Medical School of Pharmacy. After graduating from college, he began his pharmacy career working with Cohen Drug until he moved to Goldenrod, Florida, where he joined the Kmart Corporation. At Kmart, Ed was one of the key architects of the retail pharmacy division, which became a significant profit center for the company and the blueprint for other big box stores and grocery chains.
He had an incredible passion for deep sea fishing. Partly because of the physical challenge of the sport. Partly because he loved the adventure. And no one could spin a better fish story than Ed Snyder, just ask his longtime friends, Gary Kruger and Jay Stuart.
Eventually, Ed made a professional return to West Virginia where he continued his practice as a relief pharmacist. Often called “Doc” by his customers, his knowledge of pharmacology and commitment to helping others made him a popular asset to the rural communities who desperately needed his innate kindness and care.
Ed, known as “Pops” to his family, is survived by his loving wife and caregiver Karen Jones Snyder, his daughter Terrie Snyder Henderson, (son-in-law Pat and grandchildren Michael, Andrew, Sarah, Mary, Anna, Claire, Mattie and Sean); sons Charles Edward “Eddie” Snyder Jr. (son-in-law Andrew Manne and grandsons Nick and Matt), Eric Vincent Snyder, (daughter-in-law Susan Maddox Snyder and granddaughters Leslie and Hannah) and ten great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by the mother of his sons Eddie and Eric, Peggy Collard Snyder Thompson (husband Hugh), of Poca, WV, as well as many other nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held on March 25th, 10:00 am at University Carillon Methodist Church, 1395 Campus View Ct, Oviedo, FL 32765.