David Snipes' Obituary
Claude David Snipes, 84, went home to be with the Lord on March 15, 2016. David passed away peacefully in his sleep. After a long twenty-six months without his beloved wife Jane, following her death in 2013, David passed with a smile on his face in anticipation of being with her again.
David was born to Blanche Watts Snipes and John Henry Snipes on April 16, 1931, in Pageland, South Carolina. Based on the adventures he told about growing up with five brothers and five sisters, it is certain that David was one of the ring leaders as he was always a jokester with a mischievous grin on his face. David graduated from Pageland High School in 1949.
After joining the Air Force and getting stationed for training at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1953, David met and married the love of his life, Janie Margaret Fennell of Soules Chapel, Texas on December 26 of that same year. David and Jane began married life at Brookley AFB in Mobile, Alabama. After four years in the Air Force, and the birth of daughters Cindy and Vikki, they moved to Longview, Texas in the fall of 1957. David began a fifteen-year career in appliance and refrigeration repair at Sears, and he and Jane welcomed third daughter Karen several years later.
David returned to school mid-life where he became the first member of his family to attend and graduate from college. He obtained his Master of Education degree and began his teaching career at Pine Tree High School in 1973. David enjoyed five years teaching small engine repair followed by another twelve years as coordinator of the Industrial Cooperative Training program. David retired in 1990.
In addition to his professional teaching career, David also cherished his time teaching young people in Sunday school, ushering regularly and serving in many other capacities at Greggton United Methodist Church where he was a member for nearly sixty years. In his spare time, David loved to fish, garden and do woodworking but his greatest love was being a Papa to his eight precious grandchildren.
David was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jane, his parents, brothers Billy, Sammy, Harold, Paul and Leon and by sisters Mary and Johnsie.
David is survived by, and lives on through, daughters Cindy, Vikki and Karen, sons-in-law Jim and Joe, eight grandchildren: Charlie, Stacy, Holly, David, Kevin, Julie, Abbey and Tommy, thirteen great grandchildren, sisters Laura, Drula and Rachel and sister-in-law Sue as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff at Harrison House Assisted Living in Greenville, Texas where David spent his last eighteen months and to Hospice Plus for the loving care they provided to them and to David during his final months.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Greggton United Methodist Church of Longview, Texas or to Hospice Plus of Greenville, Texas.
The family has scheduled a celebratory memorial service on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at twelve o’clock in the afternoon at Greggton United Methodist Church. Honorary pall bearers are grandsons Charlie Coker, David Sneed, Kevin Sneed and Tommy Bullock; sons-in-law Jim Coker and Joe Bullock; nephews David and Steve Baker and long time family friend Dennis Gronewald.
First and foremost, David lived his life as a man of God and he was a dedicated servant. David’s other cherished work was that of beloved husband and proud father, and he was a committed and steadfast family man.
As a husband, David was fondly known as Mr. Wonderful. He was a very special daddy and an even more special Papa who will be dearly missed.
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