Edwin Ray Snider (November 29, 1928–August 4, 1994)

By Sofia Barreda and Harper Norris

Early Life

Edwin Ray Snider was born on November 29, 1928, in Lafayette County, Florida, to John William Snider and Effie Rebecca Jackson.1 He grew up in Lafayette County with six siblings: John Russell, William Ralph, Henry Ellis, Zack Levy, Avis Rebecca, and Malan L. Snider, listed here in this 1940 US census record.2 Edwin’s father, John Snider, rented a farm where he worked long hours for very little pay for most of Edwin’s childhood.3

1940 US Census, Edwin Ray Snider, line 69

The Great Depression had a vice grip on the nation’s economy, and farming in Florida during this time was harsh and unrewarding. Two devastating hurricanes hit Florida in 1926 and 1928, wrecking many homes and buildings. Following these hurricanes in 1929 was the outbreak of the Mediterranean fruit fly, which damaged citrus crops and spread disease. This prompted a quarantine that prevented citrus from being traded outside the state. Since citrus made up nearly fifty percent of Florida's revenue at the time, this was a deadly blow to Florida’s agriculture.4 Edwin worked as a family farmhand until he enlisted in the US Navy, following in the footsteps of his father and three brothers.5 Edwin’s father had been drafted in World War I, and three of Edwin’s brothers were active during World War II.6

Military Service

USS OKALOOSA (APA-219)

On January 12, 1948, two years after his brothers returned home from World War II, Edwin Snider enlisted in the US Navy.7 Snider was stationed on the USS Okaloosa (APA-219), a Haskell-class attack transport seen here in a photo taken sometime in the late 1940s. The Okaloosa previously saw action in the Battle of Okinawa, and conducted various missions of the coast of China.8 In 1948, when Snider was assigned to the vessel, the Okaloosa was used mainly for embarking on cruises for members of the reserve to areas such as Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and various islands in the Caribbean.9 In July of the following year, the Navy decommissioned the Okaloosa, and Snider's next assignment is unknown.10 Snider continued to serve with the Navy through the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was released on October 15, 1962, but re-enlisted the very next day and continued his service in the Navy until he retired on October 26, 1967 at the age of 36.11 In his time in the Navy, he reached the rank of Chief Petty Officer.12

Post-War Life

When Edwin Snider retired from the Navy, he moved to Broward County, Florida, and married Betty Wilhelmina Sukkel on December 9, 1972.13 Snider and his wife returned to his birthplace of Lafayette County, where they divorced in 1980.14 Sometime after 1979, Edwin moved to Columbia, Florida where he died on August 4, 1994, at the age of 65.15 He is buried in Midway Cemetery, located in his home county of Lafayette along with his parents and siblings.16 He is also remembered for his service at the Florida National Cemetery, where he has a memorial in section MC, site 25. 17

Endnotes

1 “United States Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010,” database, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com (accessed April 5, 2017), entry for Edwin Ray Snider, Florida.

2 “1940 United States Federal Census,” database, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com (accessed April 6, 2017), entry for John William Snider, Florida.

3 “1920 United States Federal Census,” database, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com (accessed April 10, 2017), entry for John William Snider, Florida.

4 Kristen Sweeting, “The Great Depression Hit Florida Before 1929,” Florida Maritime Museum, 2017 (accessed July 24, 2017), http://floridamaritimemuseum.org/great-depression-hit-florida-1929/

5 “1930 United States Federal Census,” database, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com (accessed April 5, 2017), entry for Edwin Ray Snider, Florida.

6 “Florida, State Census, 1867-1945,” database, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com (accessed April 10, 2017), entry for Ellis Snider; “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com (accessed April 10, 2017), entry for John William Snider; “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947,” database, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com (accessed July 30, 2017), entries for John Russell Snider, Henry Ellis Snider, and William Ralph Snider, all of Florida.

7 “U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947,” database, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com (accessed July 30, 2017), entry for Edwin Ray Snider.

8 “US WWII Naval Muster Rolls, 1938-1949,” database, Fold3.com, http://www. fold3.com (accessed July 30, 2017), entry for Edwin Ray Snider, army serial number 558-24-67.

9 “Okaloosa,” Naval History and Heritage Command (accessed July 31, 2017), https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/okaloosa.html

10 “USS Okaloosa,” Hullnumber.com (accessed 28 July, 2017), http://www.hullnumber.com/APA-219

11 “Entry for Edwin Ray Snider,” database, Fold3.com, http://fold3.com (accessed July 30, 2017), entry for Edwin Ray Snider.

12Snider, Edwin R, National Cemetery Administration, National Gravesite Locator (accessed August 5, 2017), http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/

13 “Florida Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001,” database, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com (accessed April 6, 2017), entry for Betty Sukkel.

14 “Florida Divorce Index 1927-2001,” database, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com (accessed April 6, 2017), entry for Edwin Ray Snider.

15 “Florida Death Index 1887-1998,” database, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com (accessed April 6, 2017), entry for Edwin Ray Snider; Snider, Edwin R, National Cemetery Administration, National Gravesite Locator (accessed August 5, 2017), http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/

16 “Snider’s buried in Midway Cemetery,” database, Findagrave.com. http://findagrave.com (accessed April 6, 2017), entry for Edwin R. Snider.

17 National Cemetery Administration, "Edwin Ray Snider," US Department of Veterans Affairs, accessed August 5, 2017, https://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/NGLMap?ID=5468944

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