Gloria Snyder 1924-2018

Gloria Snyder 1924-2018

Gloria June Wilkers (Lowdermilk) Snyder died Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 at the Vintage Park Assisted Living Facility in Holton.

She was born Nov. 24, 1924, in Arkansas City, to Joy and Alma Wilkers. She graduated from Winfield High School in 1943 and beauty school three years later.

She worked at JC Penney in Oklahoma City, Okla., and later for Boeing Aircraft in Wichita, where she met Howard Lowdermilk. They were married nearly twelve years and were blessed with three children before he passed in 1958. She married Vernon C. Snyder in 1960 and they made their home in Holton, where Vernon's three children, Toka Jean, Daniel L. and David L., completed their family of six children.

Gloria was an active and faithful member of First United Methodist Church for 50 years in Holton. She was an active member of the Jackson County Historical Society from its formation and a Girl Scout Leader for eight years.

She had a variety of interests that she pursued with a passion, including bridge, bird watching and sewing. She traveled with Vernon on the Alaskan Highway, hunted rattlesnakes in Okenee, Okla., and raised buffalo, peacocks and Texas Longhorns. When they traveled, she, at 4’11”, did all the driving of their 22-foot motor home. She was an avid reader of romance novels, reading four or five a week. Gloria liked people and they shared the hospitality of their home on many pleasant evenings with their friends.

For more than 20 years she spent the winters in Arizona with her two daughters and grandchildren. Not only did she enjoy the warm weather, she spent precious time with Heidi and Carlie, teaching them how to cook and sew, helping with Girl Scouts, driving them to dance and watching them perform. Always the beloved Grammy that would sneak cookies and candy when Mom wasn’t looking!

She was preceded in death by her husband Vernon in 1999, her brother Calvin Wilkers and her sister Rosemary Wilkers Hardy.

She is survived by three children, Joyanna Lowdermilk Hammond, Tempe, Ariz., H. Bruce (Linda) Lowdermilk, Spring Hill, and Alma Lowdermilk Riedel, Gilbert, Ariz.; three stepchildren, Toka Snyder Smith (Steve), in Washington, Daniel Snyder, Roswell, N.M., and David (Debbie) Snyder, Holton. She leaves behind two grandchildren (Heidi and Carlie Riedel), six stepgrandchildren and many, many dear close friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 20 at First United Methodist Church, 1401 W. Fourth St. in Holton. Pink was Gloria’s favorite color and it would be nice if she saw lots of pink in the church that day.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Jackson County Historical Society or First United Methodist Church and may be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1034, Holton, KS 66436. Online condolences may be made at chapeloaksfuneralhome.com

(PAID OBITUARY)

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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