Donald Snyder

A memorial service for Donald Snyder was held on Dec. 18 at Sierra Vista Community Church in Upland, Calif. He and his wife are to be interred at Centenary Cemetery at Gallatin, where a private ceremony will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to Pomona Valley Special Olympics.

Donald Lee Snyder, 79, Pomona, Calif., died Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005, at Doctor’s Hospital in Montclair, Calif.

Mr. Snyder was born on March 19, 1926, in Gallatin. He graduate from Gallatin High School in 1944.

Following high school he served as a musician aboard the U.S.S. North Carolina in the Pacific during WWII.

He received a B.A. in music from Northwest Missouri State Teacher’s College in 1950.

In June of 1957, Mr. Snyder married Shirley Jane Swofford of Jamesport.

He was a Pomona, Calif., resident for six years and a Los Angeles County resident for 38 years.

Before his retirement he worked in retail sales at several stores throughout the area. He also worked as a car salesman for a period of time and was employed by the California Cities Water Co.

In the 1970s, he lived in La Verne and taught music at several local schools. He played music professionally at many local clubs and hotels in southern California throughout the 1960s and 70s. Before moving to California in 1967, he lived in Colorado where he worked primarily as a trombonist and bassist at clubs and resorts in the Denver area. He also toured the Southwest as a trombonist with Clyde McCoy’s Dixieland Jazz Band.

He was married to his wife, Shirley, for 48 years. She died on Sept. 26 of 2005.

Survivors include one daughter Lisa Snyder of Pomona; one son, Mathew Snyder of Claremont; one brother, Robin Snyder of la Verne; and three grandchildren.