Franklin "Rab" Snyder

Mr. Franklin “Rab” Delano Snyder, 81, left his earthly home to live with the heavenly Father he loved so deeply on Thursday, December 27, 2018. He was born January 18, 1937 in Forsyth County, North Carolina to Percy Eugene Snyder and Nellie Cleo Shutt Snyder. Rab was the third child of six, four boys and two girls. He attended one public school, Griffith School, from first to twelve grade. In high school, Rab played football, baseball, and basketball. He lettered in all three sports and was voted athlete of the year his senior year. Rab worked three years as a carpenter and in 1957 he went to work for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. He met his wife, Millie, in 1956 when he was visiting her house with his brother-in-law and saw a pretty girl go running through the house barefooted. Rab knew she was the one. They were married in 1959. He was drafted on July 12, 1960. Rab was the only one in her family to serve in the military. Rab’s basic training started at Ft. Benning, Georgia and moved to Ft. Riley, Kansas for AIT. From there he went to Ft. Dix, New Jersey and then to Schweifort, Germany, 38th Infantry, 3rd Division. Rab became a radio operator for Company D and obtained the rank of Spec. 4. In April of 1962 his daughter, Pam, was born and with an honorable discharge, Rab went home to the states on June 23, 1962. He retired from R.J. Reynolds in 1989. Millie and Rab traveled every state except Hawaii and their best trip was to Alaska and Canada. On March 18, 2005, his grandson and namesake was born. Colby Franklin Stowers was his delight and joy. In 2009, Millie and Rab were married for fifty years. On June 26, 2011, Millie passed away. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred “Millie” Lewis Snyder; sister, Rita Hughes; brother, Percy Snyder, Jr.; and brother-in-law, J.W. Demby. Surviving family includes a daughter, Pam Stowers and husband, Bill; grandson, Colby Franklin Stowers; sister, Louise Demby, brothers, Bob Snyder and wife, Virginia, and Richard Snyder and wife, Alice; brother-in-law, Allen Hughes; and sister-in-law, Betty Waller Snyder. A funeral service will be held at 2:30 pm on Sunday, December 30, 2018 at Advent Moravian Church with Rev. Dr. Timothy G. Sapp officiating. Interment will follow in the church graveyard. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Simstein Fund at the Charles E. Davis Cancer Center at Forsyth Medical Center. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.