MARTINSVILLE – David Lee Snyder, 71, of Charleston, died at 2:10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, at Carle Hospital, Champaign. He was a Standardbred horse trainer with his main focus on pacers and also worked as a custodian in the Martinsville school system for several years.
Funeral services are 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at the Greenwell Funeral Home in Martinsville, with Pastor Brian Miller officiating. Burial is in Baird Cemetery. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, at the funeral home.
Mr. Snyder was born Oct. 13, 1945, at Paris, the son of the late Charles Franklin and Hazel G. Ward Snyder. He married Peggy Lee Baird of Martinsville Oct. 6, 1967, and she survives.
He is also survived by a son, Chet Lee (Misty) Snyder of Fairfield; a daughter, Cathy Lee (Matt) Feely of Champaign, IL; three sisters, Betty Snyder of Danville, Wilma Jean Sterling of Peachtree City, Ga., and Beulah Kemp of West Frankfort; four grandchildren, Macklin, Marylee, and Macayle Snyder and Lela Feely.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Snyder Jr. and Carl Edward Snyder; and three sisters, Wanita Keenen, Mildred Huston and Lela Southard.
Mr. Snyder raced at many county fairs in addition to Balmoral Park, Sportsman’s Park, Maywood Park, Cahokia Downs, Fairmont Park, Hawthorne Race Course and Hoosier Park. He spent many Labor Day weekends and family vacations at the state fairs in Springfield and DuQuoin.
He was a 1963 graduate of Paris High School. An avid sports fan, he loved the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Fighting Illini, Fairfield Mules and Martinsville Bluestreaks. He was thrilled with this past season to finally see the Cubs win a World Series.
He played Huff ‘n’ Puff volleyball on the Pacemakers team and travel slow-pitch softball for many years. He also enjoyed being outdoors, fishing and mushroom hunting and always looked forward to the annual Snyder fishing trip at Reel Foot Lake. Most of all, he loved spending time with family and friends around a table of great food followed by beating his opponents in a game of cards. He especially loved being a part of his grandchildrens’ lives
Memorial donations may be made to the Feely’s Adoption Fund, 4509 Copper Ridge Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, with envelopes available at the funeral home.
The family requests people wear Cubs T-shirts or jerseys to the visitation
Online condolences may be left at www.markwellfuneralhome.com.