Allen D. Snyder

Allen Snyder was born 98 years ago near Lake Wilson, MN to Arthur and Eliza Townsend Snyder. The majority of his childhood was spent living on the family farm near Dawson, ND, before attending North Dakota State and Oregon State College, where he graduated with an Electrical Engineering Degree in 1941. While both were in college, Allen met Florence Rose Kent and they were married 71 years ago on June 21, 1942 in Valley Falls, Kansas. Allen and Florence lived in Elmhurst, IL during most of WWII with Allen employed by Automatic Electric, a contractor to the US Air Force. Allen’s contribution to the war was in the development of relays used in very high altitude communication systems. Allen and Florence returned to Oregon in 1946, where Allen soon was employed as an engineer by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, a career in the telephone equipment business that would end upon his retirement from Pacific Northwest Bell in 1977. In 1948 they joined First United Methodist Church, contributing their talents in support of relocation of the church to its current location in 1957. Allen provided communications assistance to the church and worked in the sound booth during Sunday services for many years. Their continuous membership has been sustained for 65 years, participating in various committees and groups including the COGS, NYNOs, Hoe and Rake Gang, the Parker Group and more. Allen and Florence loved to travel; trips were many across the US and Canada, and wherever possible, they would seek out family members to visit at stops along their way. In retirement they enjoyed trips to Costa Rica, Egypt, the Holy Lands, and multiple trips to Europe. In 2002, at age 87, Allen took Florence to Paris, where they connected with their children and several grandchildren to once again visit France and Spain. Allen loved to dance. The music in his bones drew him to barn dances in North Dakota, where he would listen and dance to the traveling Lawrence Welk band of that era. He was a lifelong Lawrence Welk fan, inviting the weekly show into the living room virtually every Saturday night for years and years. Allen and Florence square and round danced with the Castle 8'ers and B-Sharps clubs in Portland for decades and extended their dancing with national callers during their first 18 retirement winters in Hemet, CA. Those winters were also special to Allen as he connected with family in Southern California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. Allen had a passion for birding, and in 1978 was president of the Portland Chapter of the Audubon Society. Later, he and Florence became founding members of, and tireless volunteers for the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. In addition to constructing trails and bridges, for years they participated in the weekly inventory of migrating bird populations which were often summarized in published articles in the Oregonian. A portion of his legacy at Jackson Bottom includes the Allen Snyder Outstanding Volunteer Award, given annually to the person whose selfless contribution help sustain the mission of Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Family was central to Allen's life. He enjoyed close relationships with both his and Florence's siblings, nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family reunions were always a high priority and were just one of the ways in which he stayed connected to his extended family. Survivors include his wife, Florence, children: Lauren Snyder of Seattle, WA, Audrey Snyder Brown of Eugene, OR, grandchildren: Andrew Snyder of Montclair, NJ, Alison Snyder Valier of Gilbert, AZ, James Brown of Portland, OR and Linden Brown of Rochester, NY, and three great-grandchildren: Amelia Snyder, Owen Snyder and Albert Valier. Interment will be at Wilhelm’s Portland Memorial. The family suggests that remembrance gifts be made in Allen's name to the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Service Information