Barbara Jean Snyder, RN, Lt. Cmdr. USN (Ret.)
Barbara Jean Snyder died at her home in Oak Harbor on May 5, 2011, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
She was born March 5, 1948, in Chicago to John and Phyllis Schneider. Barbara graduated from Foreman High School in Chicago in January 1966 as a National Merit Scholar. She was a skilled athlete and was a member of the swim team for Irving Park and the city of Chicago and served as a life guard for Skokie Park for three years.
Barbara attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., where she received her bachelor of science in nursing, graduating as a registered nurse in May of 1970. She went on to receive her master’s in business administration from Pepperdine University.
Barbara enlisted in the U.S. Navy’s delayed entry program while attending school. She entered the Navy, and following boot camp and basic training, she was stationed at Jacksonville and then sent to Corpus Christi, Texas and the Naval Hospital. She met a young sailor during her first stations, and on Feb. 12, 1972, she and Dennis B. Snyder were married in Chicago.
The Navy sent Barbara to Miramar for two years and then to Naval Hospital, San Diego, for four years. Her next duty station was Glenview, Ill., followed by a tour at Pearl Harbor. In 1984, she reported aboard Naval Hospital Oak Harbor as the quality assurance risk management coordinator. She retired as a LCDR, on April 30, 1990.
Following retirement, Barbara decided to leave health care and set out on a new challenge. She was hired by the Oak Harbor School District in 1992, working at North Whidbey and Oak Harbor middle school. She began her career as an instructional assistant and finished her career as the ASB secretary of Oak Harbor Middle School. She enjoyed reading, quilting, cross stitching and travel. She was a member of the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church and a former member of the Chicago Eden United Church of Christ.
Barbara is survived by her husband Dennis at the family home and by two children, Eric Snyder and wife Katie Ellis-Snyder of Mount Vernon and Jamie Smith and husband Graham of Lake Stevens; by one grandchild, Sydney Snyder; and two additional grandchildren, due to be delivered in June; one brother, John Schneider of St. Louis, Mo.; and her parents John and Phyllis Schneider of Schaumburg, Ill.
Barbara requested a wake be held for her on Saturday, May 14, at Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, from 2 to 6 p.m. This will be an open viewing time with an ongoing reception for family and friends. Cremation will follow and burial will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, with full military honors. Barb requested memorials to the Chicago Eden United Church of Christ or the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.
