The Rev. Dr. Walstein W. "Wally" Snyder '45, whose leadership of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Homes for Children transformed a generation of children, died Aug. 29, at his home in Burlington.
Snyder enrolled at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ on the advice of his close friend and mentor, the late Rev. Dr. William J. Andes ’35. Upon graduating from ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ in 1945, Snyder went on to receive a divinity degree from Duke University and an honorary doctor of Divinity degree from ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ in 1964. Over the next two decades, he served as a pastor in United Church of Christ parishes in North Carolina’s Alamance, Caswell and Orange counties, as well as in Chesapeake, Va.
In 1960, Snyder returned to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College, N.C., to become chief executive officer of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Homes for Children. During his 30-year tenure, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Homes became the first agency to be accredited by the National Association of Homes for Children and established satellite campuses in Charlotte, N.C., and Suffolk, Va. Snyder and his wife, the late Nell Mann Snyder ’47, worked diligently ensure that the doors of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Homes remained open and that an excellent staff delivered quality education to the children.
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ named Snyder its 1981 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, and in 1984, Gov. Jim Hunt awarded Snyder the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor granted in North Carolina. Snyder retired as CEO of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Homes in 1990 but remained the organization’s president emeritus until 2000. In 2007, the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ campus of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Homes was renamed the Walstein W. Snyder Campus. That same year, the Snyder Room in ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s Johnston Hall – which served as Snyder’s office when the building was part of the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Homes campus – was named in his honor. In 2009, Snyder received the university’s Service to Church and Society Award.
A dedicated supporter of his alma mater, Snyder served on ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s National Alumni Executive Board and The ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Society Executive Committee, and was a member of the Order of the Oak, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s planned giving society. In addition, he established the Walstein W. and Nell M. Snyder Endowed Scholarship in memory of his wife.
Survivors include his son, Wesley Snyder and wife Donna of Virginia Beach, VA; two daughters, Elia Ann Snyder Moser and husband Larry of Burlington and Rita Dale Snyder of Greensboro; eight grandchildren, Lori Snyder Aycock and husband Trey, Ryan Snyder, Morgan Elizabeth Snyder, Andrew Snyder, Emily Moser Johnson and husband D.J., Neil Moser and wife Marsha, Evan Moser and Julie Kenney Zarecor; six great grandchildren; his sister, Janice Dovel and husband Oswell; a loving companion, Beth Schmidt; and Becky and Barry Brasloff.
Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rich and Thompson Funeral Home, 306 Glenwood Ave, Burlington. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 2, at the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Community Church. A private graveside burial service will follow the funeral.
Memorial donations can be made in Rev. Snyder’s honor to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, 2600 Campus Box, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, NC 27244; and/or the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Community Church, 271 N. Williamson Ave., ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, NC 27244.