John Keith Snyder Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Concluding a full life that spanned three continents, John Keith Snyder, age 97, of Indianapolis, passed away Saturday, June 23, 2018 at Community North Hospital. He was born on December 27, 1920 as the son of Albert B. Snyder and Nellie (Richardson) Snyder. He graduated from Shortridge High School in 1938 and attended Purdue University. John received an honorary doctorate of law from Vincennes University. He served in the United States Navy as a Seabee during World War II, where he was awarded the European Theater ribbon. John liked to say that his successful political career began in 1932 when he checked hats and coats for a Herbert Hoover rally in Indianapolis at the age of 12. Elected to two terms as Indiana Treasurer of State (1966-1971), John received statewide media coverage when he paid his $825 filing fee with 1880s-1920s-era U.S. Morgan-Peace silver dollars (valued between $15,000-$25,000 today). During his tenure, he established policies that earned Indiana taxpayers $48 million ($343 million in 2017 dollars), more than all previous state treasurers combined. For his outstanding public service, John was recognized three times with the Sagamore of the Wabash awards by three separate Indiana governors (Brannigan, Whitcomb and Bowen). He was also named a Distinguished Hoosier. After receiving more votes than any other candidate in 1968 (including President Richard Nixon), John set a record for total cross-over votes that lasted until the 21st century. The victory earned him the title of “Mr. Republican” from the Indianapolis Star. His political career included serving as a candidate for State Senator (1958), U.S. Senator (1970), Governor (1984) and Congressman in 2010 at age 90. He served as a sought-after counselor for many political campaigns and was elected Indiana State Republican Chairman in 1971. John also served as a foreign service officer in Paris, France in 1972-73. While there, he spent considerable time in Ethiopia and Uganda, where he led a team that successfully extracted 256 stranded Peace Corp volunteers during Ugandan political unrest. A civic leader throughout his life, John helped found and served as chairman of the Washington Industrial Progress Committee, a successful economic development group in Daviess County. He was recognized for his long-term service by the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation in 2011. He was active in leadership on the Daviess County Republican Finance Committee and served several times as a delegate to both the state and national Republican Conventions. In addition to a successful career as an executive and board officer in banking and insurance, John also was a farmer in northern Hancock County for a number of years, raising corn, soybeans, cattle and swine. A lifelong Christian, John first attended Tabernacle Presbyterian in Indianapolis as a youth and later served as an elder in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Washington. He also attended the Free Methodist Church in Washington for many years. An ardent baseball fan, player and coach, John joked that he could not pass on until his favorite team, the Chicago Cubs, won the World Series. While successful in business and politics, John always put his family first. John was also a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 75 years and an over 75-year member of the Scottish Rite of Evansville, IN. He is survived by his sons, John K. (Linda) Snyder Jr. of Jasper, IN, Michael A. (Jamie) Snyder of Indianapolis, IN, and A. Randall (Berniece) Snyder of Bloomington, IN; daughters, Kittie (Chad) Masters of Fortville, IN and Felicia Snyder of Lexington, KY; 16 grandchildren, John, Dorothy, Jim, DeeAnn, Lovie, Sarah, Blair, Bo, Ray, Cassity, Winston, Kathy, Muir, Solomon, Chase, and Cadence; 14 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and his caregiver, Darlene Snyder. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Stella Snyder; daughter, Janice “Kathy” Snyder-Root; son-in-law Victor Root; brother, Roger Snyder; and sister, Dorothy Snyder. Visitation will take place on Saturday, June 30, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory, 1484 W. US Hwy. 40, Greenfield, IN 46140. A Celebration of Life service will be held immediately following the visitation at 3:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Simmons Cemetery in Wilkinson, IN, with full military honors presented by the Greenfield Veterans Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made by mail to the Free Methodist Church, 1155 Troy Rd., Washington, IN 47501, or envelopes will be available at the mortuary. Friends may share a memory or a condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com.

John Keith Snyder

December 27, 1920 - June 23, 2018