William Davis Snyder

William Davis Snyder

Cedar Rapids

William Davis Snyder, WOOF, was born April 22, 1934, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to William Ellsworth and Charlotte Gretchen Keys Snyder. He died at the age of 91 on August 26, 2025, at St. Luke's Transitional Care Center in Cedar Rapids, where he received outstanding care the last few months of his life. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on November 29, 2025, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Center Point, with a visitation one hour prior. Inurnment: Center Point Cemetery, Center Point. An additional visitation will be held at the Snyder home in Cedar Rapids from 5 to 7 p.m. November 28th.

William Davis grew up in Rapid City and graduated from Rapid City High School. He received his first amateur radio license in January 1948 and continued that interest throughout his life. After a year at the South Dakota School of Mines, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor, working in radio communication and upkeep during the Korean War years and afterwards. His passion was to keep the equipment in such good order that there would never be another surprise attack like that in 1941. He was a Petty Officer 1st Class at the time of his discharge. William graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in economics.

Mr. Snyder married Jean Alice Boschma December 27, 1958, in Springfield, South Dakota. Their children are Katherine Mae Snyder, Warrenville, Illinois; Mary Alice Snydersmith, Plainfield, Illinois; and George William Snyder and wife Kimberly, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Their grandchildren are Lindsey Allison Hoffman and husband Neil, Christopher Snyder Burt, Phoebe Jean Snydersmith, Will Abraham Snydersmith, Simon Roger Snydersmith, Abigail Gretchen Snyder and Nicholas Alexander Snyder. Their great-grandson is Fitzgerald Neil Hoffman.

In 1963 the family moved to Center Point, Iowa, where they lived and worked on the Snyder family farm until moving to Cedar Rapids in 1993. Bill was employed by the Social Security Administration until his retirement. His goal was to help all applicants get the benefits they were entitled to, especially those who could not afford a lawyer to help them.

Bill was a member of the Center Point American Legion, Cedar Valley Amateur Radio Club, Eastern Iowa DX Association and American Orchid Society. He served for many years as treasurer of the Center Point United Methodist Church and served two terms on the Linn County Extension Council. Bill was always interested in flowers and gardening and at various times was a member or volunteer for the Linn County Rose Society, Good Earth Garden Club, Linn County Extension Master Composters, Eastern Iowa Orchid Society, Trees Forever and a founding member of Friends of Noelridge Park, Greenhouse and Botanical Center, Inc. In many of these organizations he assisted in the legal aspects of incorporating non-profit organizations and navigating the intricacies of state and federal tax regulations.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, children and grandchildren; brothers Richard, Seattle, Washington; Charles and wife Lucille Reilly, Aurora, Colorado; James, Corpus Christi, Texas; brother-in-law, Duane Jansen, Fort Collins, Colorado, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, John and Robert Snyder; sisters-in-law, Doris Jean Snyder, Iris Glanzman, Arlis Jansen, Aileen and Doris Boschma; and brothers-in-law, Byron and Lawrence Boschma and Walter Glanzman.

Memorials may be directed to the Center Point American Legion or the Eastern Iowa Orchid Society. 

Please share a memory of William at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.