Roland Eugene Snare died at 2:55 p.m. Sept. 29, 2017, at the Bluffton Hospital. Roland Eugene “Gene” Snare was born March 12, 1925, to Roland D. and Carey (Harding) Snare who preceded him in death.
Gene graduated from Ada High School in 1943 and enlisted in the Army where he served from 1943 - 1946 in the Asiatic Pacific - Philippines. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #382 - Bluffton.
On Jan. 26, 1947, he married Dortha Jean Ream who preceded him in death on May 1, 2006. A printer by trade, Gene worked at the Ada Herald, Bellevue Gazette, Bellefontaine Examiner, the Belle Center Herald Voice and for 30 years at the Bluffton News from where he retired in 1992.
Gene served as song leader, choir director and Sunday School teacher during 10 years at First Baptist Church in Bellefontaine and as deacon, song leader, choir director, Sunday School teacher during his 50-plus years as a member of Riley Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include a sister Miriam (Floyd, deceased) Snider, Shawnee, Ohio; children, Kenneth (Renny) of Athalia, Ohio, Alice Leonard of Bluffton, Carl of Bluffton, Thomas (Carolyn) of Loveland, Ohio, John of Findlay; 12 grandchildren, Anna Ryan of Barboursville, W.V., Sarah (Chris) Brown of Pasadena, Md., Leah (Jason) Harris of Barboursville, W.V., Justin Leonard of Bluffton, Josh (Beth) Snare of Hilliard, Rachel Snare of Findlay, Samantha (Andrew) Smith of Pandora, Arrianna and Amelia Snare, Findlay, Crystal (Andy) Wash of West Chester, Cerena (Jason) Young of Lebanon, Cathy Snare of Loveland.
Also surviving are 12 great-grandchildren, Andrew, Alana and Leila Gouin of Barboursville, W.V., Micah, Kathryn and Nicole Harris of Barboursville, W.V., Bronwyn and Waverly Snare of Hilliard; Kaden Smith of Pandora, Ruth Ann Wash of West Chester, Falecia (Robert) Perkins of Seattle, Wash., Dylan Wash of West Chester.; one great-great granddaughter, Ava Perkins of Seattle, Wash.
Gene was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters: Francis Snare, Ernest Snare, Annabelle Banning and Virginia Long.
Services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at Riley Creek Baptist Church, Bluffton. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until time of the service at the church. Burial will be in the Hasson Cemetery where military rites will be conducted.
Memorials contributions should be sent to the New Song Baptist Church Construction Fund at ABWE, P.O. Box 8585, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8585 in memory of Gene Snare.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted with Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
