Cover photo for Donald Snider's Obituary
Donald Snider Profile Photo
1928 Donald 2015

Donald Snider

May 27, 1928 — April 4, 2015

Don was born on May 27, 1928, and died on April 4, 2015. He was raised in Denver by his maternal grandparents, Lucetta and Enoch Paul (E.P.) Snider. Don attended Eagleton Grade School, Lake Jr. High and West High School. The family lived in Barnum on King Street, directly west of Denver Fire Station 20, where his dad, E.P., was a fireman. In Barnum, Don met his lifelong friends Harold Gotchey and Jim Potter. Don often told of the fun they'd have and the trouble they got into (actually minor things by most standards.) In their later years, Don, Harold and Jim were all Denver Firefighters together, and all three moved within close proximity of each other to raise their families in Bear Valley. Don came from a family dedicated to public service: Great-grandfather Christian David Snider served as a Mounted Policeman in downtown and south Denver. E.P.'s brother George was also a Denver Firefighter. After his graduation, Don worked for Hallack and Howard Lumber Company and Dr. Pepper Bottling Company on old Santa Fe Drive. In October, 1948, Don enlisted in the Army and served for three years before his honorable discharge. When he returned to Denver, he worked for five years for Mountain Bell Telephone Company before becoming a Denver Firefighter in March of 1957. He retired from the DFD in 1982. Lois and Don met when she was shy two weeks of becoming 16 years old. They dated for one year before he enlisted and was sent to Fort Ord, California, for Basic Training. He was then sent to Fort Lewis, Washington, before his final assignment in Alaska, 38 miles from the Russians. (He remained an excellent skier, though not a frequent one.) Don's ROTC training helped him advance in the Army, and he was accepted for officers' training school. But Lois, who had waited for him until she was now 20 years old, said, ""either we get married NOW or never."" They were, of course, soon married and celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on November 18, 2014. Early in their marriage, they became members of the Episcopal Church and attended St Phillip and St James in southwest Denver for many years. Don suffered from Parkinson's Disease and neuropathy for many years, as well as hearing loss and macular degeneration. The last year was especially difficult, as the family could no longer care for him at home. Seneca said, ""Sometimes, even to live is an act of courage,"" and this was certainly true of Don in the last months of his life. He never quit caring for his family, and he still tried to ""remind"" us to ""drive carefully, don't slam the door, do it THIS way..."" Besides his wife Lois, Don is survived by three daughters, Dr. Dona Zimmerman (Dr. Ray Zimmerman), Joan Joiner, and Janet King (Rex King). He was a loving Grandpa to Katy (Matthew) Chamberlain, Andrew Zimmerman, Christy Delmonico, the late Nicholas Delmonico, Angela Alexander, Cole (Ashley) Joiner, Christian (Melissa) McNellis, and Corey (Tanya) McNellis. Great-grandchildren are Connor, Madison, and Audrey Chamberlain; Vincent and Dean Alexander; and Teagan, Cayden, Sammy and Joey McNellis; Cooper Joiner. Don is also survived by ""adopted"" daughter Amira (Hermes) Boumarn and ""adopted"" grandsons Matthew and Mark Boumarn, with whom he spent many happy hours later in life. He is also survived by his brother, Leonard Foster, two step-grandchildren; Cally King-Newman (Greg) and Jared King, and many other beloved extended family members. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758541, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8541 or to The Denver Fire Department Museum, 1326 Tremont Place, Denver, CO 80204.
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