Like a brilliantly cut diamond, Shontell Snyder was multi-faceted: she sparkled as a helpmate to her devoted husband, loving supporter of her sons, diligent church musician and ambassador for the family ministry and business.
Shontell’s crowning facet was her allegiance to the Gospel of Christ. She accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior as a girl, under the tutelage, writing and preaching of Papa, her paternal grandfather the Rev. C.R. Wolford, a minister of the Christian Church.
Her family and friends have lost a most ardent prayer warrior, as Shontell’s faith became sight Monday, June 20, 2011. She was 79.
Born Shontell Irene Wolford on June 10, 1932 in Huron County to Willment W. and Laura L. (Doty) Wolford, she moved to the family’s farm north of Shenandoah as a child.
It was there on the farm that she learned a good work ethic. As firstborn, Shontell learned early how to drive the tractor, milk cows by hand and tend chickens. She was advanced through elementary school, skipping the second grade, and was graduated from Savannah High School in 1949.
She attended Oberlin School of Commerce, where she learned her elegant handwriting, shorthand at 120 words a minute and perfectly typed 60 words a minute. On the recommendation of her professors, she was hired in as secretary to the vice-presidents of the former Farmers Savings & Trust in Mansfield.
The employee time clock was adjacent to her desk, and as a new employee – a polite and handsome Bellville man – stamped his time card, he asked her if she would like to see his new car. Shontell accepted the invitation and that 1948 Chrysler Club Coupe (in robin egg blue) became their courting car. She and Jason Paul Snyder were married August 23, 1953 in the Shenandoah Christian Church, her home church that as a youth, she served as church organist.
The Snyders made their home in Fredericktown, were blessed with three sons, and though she worked as a teller in the Dan Struble Bank (now First Knox National Bank), she felt her calling in life was “to have a Christian home for (our) children.”
Shontell gardened and canned, sewed and cooked, decorated cakes and ensured their boys were in church every Sunday – there was just no good reason to miss worship services.
She was warm and supportive, and strove to have her sons make their faith their own. Nothing was more important to Shontell than her boys’ pursuit of a vital relationship with Jesus Christ.
She was a member and church pianist in First Baptist Church of Fredericktown. After their move to Lexington in 1969, she continued playing piano for worship as a member of Lexington Church of Christ. For nearly 50 years she accompanied worshippers in churches. She was currently a member of Palmyra Church of Christ, and was a 50-year member of Ann Hill Chapter #281 Order of Eastern Star, Fredericktown.
By signing her name “Mrs. J. Paul Snyder” she made no statement against feminism or a lost identity, rather, she was relishing the joy of being married “to the kindest, sweetest and most loving man.” She felt so blessed to be married to Paul. In recent years she’d whisper a secret to each of her granddaughters: “you find a man as sweet and kind and loving as your Papaw, and you hang on to him.”
Life was not always kind to Shontell. She endured back pain, multiple surgeries and a few personal hurts. Belying her stature – she never really liked being tall or the big-boned frame of a sturdy German farm girl – her sensitive heart was easily bruised by a simple verbal attack…on her husband or boys.
Shontell could not tolerate injustice.
No interest in playing the victim, she chose to be a victor. Romans chapter 8 gave her the freedom from discouragement – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”(v. 28) – and freedom from fear – “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (vv 37-39)
Shontell was not a perfect woman…but she followed a perfect Savior. And she knew life was not all about her…it’s all about Him. Shontell made every effort to do what the Lord required of her: “To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
She is survived by her husband of 57 years J. Paul Snyder; three sons and daughters-in-law Bradley & Kim Snyder of Powell, Randy & Tess Snyder of Pickerington and J. Todd & Linda Snyder of Mansfield; grandchildren Brittany & Tony Stoffer, Bethany Snyder, Jordan Snyder, Lindsay & Brad Radkoski, Jeff & Kelsey Snyder, Leah Snyder, Seth Roberts, Kennan Roberts, Hannah Snyder and Gideon Snyder; a sister and brother-in-law Eileen Wolford & Bill Marsh of Mansfield; a brother and sister-in-law Charles & Laura Wolford of Shenandoah; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Robert & Dorothy Snyder of Canon City, CO, Betty & Bill Ritchie of Tucson, AZ, Helen Snyder of Mt. Vernon, Gifta Snyder of Bellville, Madelyn Snyder of Mt. Gilead, T. Arthur & Joyce Snyder of Mansfield, Patricia & Larry Hoffman of Colorado Springs, CO, James & Pat Snyder and Janet & James Hope all of Bellville, and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Don & Virginia Snyder, Dave & Jean Snyder, Richard Snyder, Ora, Jr. “Pete” Snyder, Philip Snyder and Arden Snyder.
The Snyder family will receive friends Thursday, June 23, 2011 from 2 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m. in the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home, where her funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. Pastors Troy Northrop and Claude Likins will officiate. Burial will follow in Bellville Cemetery.
Contributions in Shontell’s memory are encouraged to MedCentral Hospice or Jefferson Township-Bellville Rescue Squad, and may be made at the funeral home. To send a private online condolence to the Snyder family, please visit: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
Some lives are so filled with love, and truth, and sparkle, that not even death can extinguish them. Shontell is a gem – and will twinkle in the hearts of her loved ones until their reunion in the Lord.