ELK RAPIDS — Arthur Nelson Snyder, 78, of Elk Rapids, passed away peacefully Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, at Birchwood Nursing Home. He was born July 2, 1928, in Claremont, Calif., to George and Pauline (Nelson) Snyder.

Immediately after graduating from Claremont High school in 1946, Art enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served on the S.S. Fall River and S.S. Iowa, sailing to Shanghai, China, and throughout the Far East as a radio man. After his military tour, Art returned to Claremont and was a member of the L.A. County Fire Dept.

On April 9, 1966, he married Martha Lee in Detroit. Later they made their home in the Elk Rapids area. Art retired as a night manager for Giant Family Center in 1993.

Art was an avid reader and he like watching U of M football, as well as professional football. He loved to visit with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed planning and talking about trips that Martha and he would make all over the U.S. and Europe.

Art is survived by his wife Martha; three children, Cindy (Mark) Swanson of Prescott Ariz., Raymond Snyder of Silverdale Wash., and Richard Snyder of the Seattle area; six grandchildren, Caleb, Daniel, Whitney, Nathaniel, Matthew and Timothy; brother-in-law Richard (Loretta) Lee of Tampa, Fla.; a niece and three nephews.

Besides his parents, Art was preceded in death by a brother, Ted and a sister-in-law, Ruth.

A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at Covell Funeral Home in Elk Rapids, with Pastor Sandy Murray officiating. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Elk Rapids Township Ambulance, P.O. Box 365, Elk Rapids.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home of Elk Rapids.

~ This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.