Ellen Jane Snyder
Ellen Jane Snyder passed away peacefully in her sleep Monday, July 12, 2010 at her home in Farmington, Pa. after a long courageous battle with heart disease. She was born September 14, 1924 in Mount Greenwood, Illinois. Her parents were Lillian Peterson Montgomery and Edward Hugh Montgomery.
She is survived by her son, Robert Irving Snyder Jr. of Knigsley, MI and two daughters, Ruth Roy of Gold Beach, Oregon and MaryEllen Snyder of Farmington, Pa. Ellen has eight grandchildren: Sasha, Sarah and Shannon Renninger, Michele and Shane Roy, April Nelson, Alon Mexico and Robert Irving Snyder III. Ellen has eight great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren: Amber and Ava Snyder, Kristie and Nick Otto, Kevin, Makayla and Kayden Bush, Cody, Marcie, Caleb, Destiny and Jenna and Audrey Mexico and Skierler Nelson.
Her husband, Robert Irving Snyder Sr. preceded her in death in 1999.
Ellen attended the University of Chicago following high school for a short time before entering the Army in 1945. As part of her service in the Women’s Army Corp she was trained as a Physical Therapist and took care of soldiers wounded during battles in WWII and Vaughn General Hospital. She became a member of AMVETS while living in Farmington, Pa.
During the 1960’s she helped save the Traverse City lakefront from development and worked for the “Open SPace Project” which resulted in a free public beach today, enjoyed by thousands of people every summer.
Ellen worked at Osteopathic Hospital as a physical therapist in Traverse City, MI for twenty years, retiring in 1983. After retirement, she volunteered with the Association of Mentally Retarded Children, taking kids swimming every week. During retirement, she traveled and spent time with her children and grand-children in Montana, California, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.
Her hobbies included: keeping abreast of politics, drawing, gardening and bird watching.
According to her wished, there will be no viewing or funeral. A memorial service will be held on the shores of Lake Michigan in August. She will be dearly missed by all her family and friends.
Arrangements are by the DONALD R. CRAWFORD FUNERAL HOME, Farmington, Pa.