Eddie Kay Snyder

HOLDEN – Eddie Kay Snyder, 76, of 508 Bullard St., formerly Andover, ME, died Monday, December 3, 2007, surrounded by his loving family.

He leaves his wife of 45 years, Katherine L. (Denslow) Snyder and 7 children; Mark A. Snyder and wife Anna of Andover, ME, Robin (Snyder) Gardner and husband Richard of Port Clinton, OH, Scott A. Snyder and wife Deborah of Rutland, MA, John K. Snyder of Auburn, ME, Andrew K. Snyder of Norway, ME, Cherie (Snyder) Ronayne and husband Paul of Worcester, MA, and Lori A. (Snyder) Rojcewicz and husband Keith of New Braintree, MA. He also leaves 19 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters; a twin - Betty Lou Goff and husband Richard of Gulf Port, FL, Mary Lynn Milford of Yucca Valley, CA, and Zoe Ann Boring of Barberton, OH. He is predeceased by his father, John H. Snyder and his step-mother, Irene Snyder of Catawba Island, OH, and his mother, Evelyn (Bowman) Brewer of Wooster, OH.

He was born in Wooster, OH, on March 13, 1931, graduated from Margaretta High School in Castalia, OH in 1949 and entered the Army soon after graduation. He completed U.S. Army Signal School and went on to instruct and train Army staff on electronics equipment during the Korean War. His Army career was underscored by meeting General of the Army and first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Omar N. Bradley in 1951. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1952.

He worked for AT& T in Andover, ME, where he was instrumental in the Historic launch, tracking, telemetry and global communications transmissions by satellite, Telstar I, in 1962. Telstar I carried the first, live television broadcast to be shown across the Atlantic Ocean, sending American space technology into the global limelight. Eddie was immensely proud of this accomplishment and considered it the highlight of his career. He worked for AT&T until retiring in 1984 after 31 years. In his spare time, Eddie built his own electronics equipment, was an avid reader, enjoyed woodworking, cribbage, surfing his computer, his bad kitties and time spent in Maine with friends and family. He was also a volunteer at Wachusett Regional High School in the Science Department, taught Sunday School and was Children’s Choir Director and also sang in the Adult Choir at Andover Congregational Church, Andover, ME, was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Andover ME, and was also chairman of the Telstar Regional School Board, Bethel, ME.

Calling hours will be held in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden, on Friday, December 7th, from 5 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 8th, at 11 a.m., also in the Miles Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either Tobacco-Free Kids at http://www.tobaccofreekids.org , or to the American Lung Association at http://www.lungusa.org . For further information or to place an on-line condolence, please visit www.milesfuneralhome.com .