Obituary of George R. Snyder

WESTERLO - George R. “Robbie” Snyder, passed away at home on Wednesday July 6, 2022. He was born on February 14, 1952, son of the late George W. and Mary E. (Brennan) Snyder, and lived in Westerlo all of his life. He was a National Honor Society graduate of Berne Knox Westerlo School Class of 1970, where he played varsity soccer and ran varsity track and cross country. He attended Hudson Valley Community College, where his studies were interrupted by a hitch in the US Navy Seabees Reserves, eventually graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Construction Technology in 1974. He took over and ran the family excavating business George W. Snyder and Son for many years, then became the Grounds Maintenance Manager for Hannay Reels. He ended his working career as a Building/Facilities Manager for the Picotte Companies in 2014. During much of this time he was also a hay farmer. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Dr Anna W. Perkins Helderberg Medical Center and the Westerlo Rural Cemetery Association.

He was an avid snowmobiler, so much so that he and his brother built a camp on Tug Hill where he spent every spare minute, regardless of season. He was a very active member of the Turin Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club, devoting many hours to trail marking and maintenance, and the construction of their new groomer barn. He also enjoyed logging and sawing lumber on his portable sawmill, and cutting firewood and maintaining the farmland he and his brother owned in Westerlo.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Gail Darlene (Lounsbury) whom he met when she was out celebrating her 18th Birthday. They were inseparable from that moment on, and made a wonderful couple. Together they shared many travel adventures, love of Tug Hill, Labrador Retrievers, and NASCAR racing. They attended hundreds of NASCAR races, cheering their favorites, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr.  He is also survived by his brother Peter Snyder of Westerlo, who shared much of his life and passions, and idolized him as his Big Brother.  Also surviving are his nephew Mark Lounsbury Jr. of Westerlo and his wife Alicia, and their children, Zoey and Owen; his niece, Jennifer O’Leary and her husband Kevin of Cranston, RI, and their children Conor and Declan; Uncle Robert Snyder and Aunt Catherine Latham of Westerlo; numerous cousins, in-laws, friends (and a few outlaws).

Visitation will be held Monday July 11^th from 10am to 12pm at the A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 State Route 81, Greenville, followed by a brief service at 12pm. Interment immediately following at the Westerlo Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association of NENY, 4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany, NY 12205 or to American Cancer Society HopeClub, 1 Penny Ln, Latham, NY 12110 are encouraged and appreciated, as they would benefit finding cures for diseases that affected his beloved Gail. Condolences can be posted at ajcunninghamfh.com.