Lou Snyder

Lou Ann Snyder, 87, passed away Saturday, December 22, 2018. Lou was educated as a teacher at the University of Missouri. She taught for 2 years in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Hannibal, Missouri.  She decided that teaching was not for her, so she came to Kansas City, and found a job with Bendix Corp. There she met Howard Snyder.  They dated and married in 1955 and were together 63 years.  She and Howard traveled extensively, and built and maintained 2 small real estate businesses.  They had a child who became disabled with mental illness, so they became deeply involved in the issue of mental health.  Lou served on the Board of Osawatomie State Hospital for 15 years.  She helped build support groups all over Kansas for families who had a loved one with mental illness.  Those groups were built into a state- wide organization which is still in operation today.  Because of her travel she became interested in foreign people.  She belonged for 40 years to Mini Mundo, an organization which provided social activities for wives of foreign husbands who were working in the United States.  She was also active in the Japan America Society, and People to People.  She and Howard also sponsored foreign Allied Military Officers and their families while they were at Fort Leavenworth in the Staff and Command College.

Lou Ann was preceded in death by a son, Howard Snyder.  She is survived by her husband, Howard; Son, Jeff Snyder; daughter, Nancy Kupzyk (Richard); two grandsons: Jason Kupzyk (Kara), Matthew Kupzyk; three great-granddaughters: Kate Kupzyk, Chloe Kupzyk and Tilly Kupzyk.  Memorial contributions in memory of Lou Ann Snyder may be given to the Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo 64113