Van Dale Snyder

Van Dale Snyder of Owensboro passed away on March 28 at Wellington Parc, surrounded by friends and family. He was born November 18, 1947 in Evansville, Indiana. He was raised in Rockport, Indiana, the son of the late Harry and Nellie Snyder. Van graduated from Rockport High school where he played football and baseball. Van joined the Marines right out of high school with his best friend, and proudly served his country as a Sergeant E5 and part of the First Air Borne division and Black Knights. He served in Chu Lai, Vietnam for 13 months. He received an Associate's degree in Business from Kentucky Wesleyan College. Van loved being outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, planting flowers, and going mushroom hunting. He loved life, but nothing made him madder than having to work on a car. To know Van was to know he was a man of few words, but could speak volumes with a look or a grin. He was a Life Time member of VFW Post 696, where he and his buddies would swap lies, share stories, heartaches, and laughs. Van worked at Southwire for 20 years, and then the teamsters union until his retirement. During his time working for the teamsters, he worked at TVA, helped build the Natcher Bridge, was a truck driver, and was behind the scenes on the movie set of A League of Their Own. Van passed away the way he lived his life, on his own terms. He was a fighter, conquering cancer twice! Once he was told he couldn't, he did. He is preceded in death by 5 brothers-in-law; Jim Arnold, Phillip Stallings, Henry Stallings, Joey Stallings, and Mike Stallings, and his sister-in-law Jean Stallings.

Van is survived by the love of his life and wife of 47 years, Carol Stallings Snyder; their daughter, Cassie Chatmon (Robby); a son, Van Dale Snyder II; three grandchildren who he loved more than they will ever know, Taylor Chatmon, Chase Chatmon, and Ciara Snyder all of Owensboro; his brother Charlie ( Delia) Snyder of Plant City, FL; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Theresa Daughtrey, of Greenville, Mary Arnold of Owensboro, Richard (Theresa) Stallings of Sun City Florida and Owensboro Kentucky, Iris Stallings, and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the VFW Post 696 for their unwavering love of him and his family and the staff at Wellington Parc and Heartland Villa for their love, care, and support.

The service, followed by military honors, will be 10:00 a.m. Friday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, where visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday and after 9:00 a.m. Friday. The Final Salute will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Honor Guard Fund of VFW Post 696. Memories of Van may be shared at glenncares.com.

A proud Marine until the end.