Reverend Roy B. Snyder of Grace Village Retirement Community of Winona Lake, Indiana was “loosed away upward” at Grace Village Health Care at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015,at the age of 93.

He was born on June 15, 1922, in Altoona, Penn. to Sheldon and Mabel (Guyer) Snyder where he grew up in a family of six children. On Aug. 9, 1947, he was married to Ruth (Croker) Snyder in Philadelphia, Penn., who went to be with the Lord on March 10, 2009.

Roy was a 1940 graduate of Altoona High School in Pennsylvania. After which he was enlisted in the U.S. Army. During World War II he spent six months in the Signal Corps reserves and then went on active duty for 34 months. More than two years were served overseas with the American Forces Network in England and Germany as a radio operator and studio engineer.

After his discharge from the military he went to Grace College and Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, to prepare for missionary service. During his seminary years he sang in the male quartet and was associate editor of the first Grace yearbook. He met Ruth Croker while at school, and along with her he went on to complete his studies in Theology and they both graduated 1949.

In the fall of 1949, the Snyder’s left for Paris where they had ten months of French language study. In July 1950, they continued on to French Equatorial Africa, in the province of Oubangui Chari. Roy was a missionary pastor working with African pastors and churches during the 35 years he served in Africa. Due to a serious heart attack in 1983, he was unable to return to Africa.

During his retirement years he worked for 12 years with the Senior Saints at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church where he was also a faithful member. In 1991 he began writing a monthly newsletter for retired missionaries, and in 1999 he was given the Excellence in Ministry Award by the Grace Brethren National Ministerium. In the year 2000 Roy received the Faithful Servant Award from Grace Brethren International Missions.

He leaves behind two sisters: Doris Walter, San Antonio, Texas; Audrey Wincovitch, Wake Forest, N.C.; 24 nieces and nephews; and Roy was thankful for the assistance and blessing from his adopted daughter: Tanya (Waggoner) Kempton. Preceded in death by his parents, wife; and four siblings.

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, Warsaw. His funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, Winona Lake, and officiated by Pastor Tom Miller. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw.

Memorial contributions can be made to Encompass World Partners (Formerly Grace Brethren International Missions).