Lewis E. "Sonny" Snyder, 78, a 28-year resident of 5957 State Route 8, Harrisville, Irwin Township, Venango County, died at 4:55 p.m. Wednesday at United Community Hospital, Grove City, after a two-year illness.

Born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Nov. 21, 1926, he was the son of Carl H. and Mary M. Moon Snyder.

He served with the Navy in the Pacific during World War II and retired in 2003 after 19 years as a truck driver for Stoneboro Nursery. He formerly drove trucks for Mercer Greenhouses, Shawgo Brothers Construction and Cooper Bessemer. He was an avid woodworker and remodeler.

Mr. Snyder was a member of the Barkeyville United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Marjorie M. Hale Snyder, whom he married Dec. 31, 1977; seven children, Shirley Ebel and her husband, William, Janet Boyd and Bill Snyder, all of Grove City, Joyce Swisher and her husband, Rick, and Jeffrey McFeaters and his companion, Cindy, all of Stoneboro, Scott Snyder and his wife, Elizabeth, of Stockbridge, Mich., and Joseph McFeaters and his companion, Alana, of Hermitage; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He also is survived by five sisters, Virginia Covert, Ella Critchlow, Lena Mae Walter and Betty Seelbaugh, all of Grove City, and Annabelle Pearson of Spearman, Texas; and his former wives, Helen Snyder of Grove City and Sally Snyder of West Middlesex.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Walter L. Snyder and Carl H. Snyder Jr.; and three sisters, Mary Lou McKibben, Rachel Kaltenbaugh and Goldie Winder.

SNYDER - Friends of Lewis W. "Sonny" Snyder, who died Wednesday, April 20, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at CUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Stephanie Thompson, his church pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Crestview Memorial Park, Grove City.