Dr. Edward R. Snider, Sr. (Ed), a retired Disciples of Christ minister, died of complications from vascular dementia on November 10, 2020 at the age of 84 in Austin, Texas.

Ed is survived by his children, Edward Snider, Jr., Mary Snider and James Snider; his brother, Fred Snider; and his sister, Frances Kuhn.

Ed was born in Gladstone, Missouri on September 28, 1936 to Frank and Edna Snider. He graduated from William Jewel College in Liberty, Missouri with a degree in Social Work. After working as a social worker for a short time, he graduated from Phillips University Seminary in Enid, Oklahoma. After several years as a minister, he received his Doctor of Ministry from Phillips University Seminary. He ministered at several churches during his career including Bethany Christian Church in Miami, Oklahoma, Memorial Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and First Christian Church in Baxter Springs, Kansas. Upon retirement, Ed and Joyce moved back to Tulsa where they had raised their family during their time at Memorial Christian Church.

While Ed was in seminary, he met the love of his life, Joyce Watson, who was attending a year of seminary as a requirement to become a missionary overseas. During their courtship, daily poems Ed wrote while he was away from Joyce for a short time convinced her that he was the one for her. Later, after they had settled into marriage, Joyce and Ed fostered, then adopted a son, James. On July 21, 1967 and May 22, 1970 respectively, they welcomed another son, Edward, and a daughter, Mary. His family was the most important part of his life.

Besides being a devoted father, Ed was a word lover. He read voraciously, wrote many sermons for his congregations and theological articles for magazines, worked crossword puzzles, and never tired of talking about his favorite authors. Every summer he'd round up the family to take the trip by car to Branson, Missouri to visit Silver Dollar City. Ed was known for his kindness, calming quiet, dad jokes, and wit.

Ed was passionate about helping others as evidenced by his strength in pastoral counseling and in building a strong church community wherever he pastored through activities like vacation bible school, holiday parties at the parsonage and church, and many church potluck dinners. He also volunteered in the prison system to give books to prisoners and visit with them.

A closed graveside service will take place on November 17th, 2020 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Inside Books Project, an organization that sends free books and educational materials to prisoners in Texas, at < https://insidebooksproject.org/donate >. We will carry your memory in our hearts.

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