Virgil Snyder
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Virgil Ward Snyder, formerly of Hancock and Houghton, Michigan died on March 1, 2024 just three days shy of his ninetieth birthday. He was born in Midland, Michigan to Virgil and Bessie Snyder, the only boy and the youngest after six sisters.
Virgil obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University followed by his PhD from the University of Arizona. Except for four years in the aeronautical industry, Virgil spent thirty-five years teaching at the university level. At Michigan Technological University, he taught fifty different courses in five different departments.
Susan Hansen and Virgil Snyder married in 1958. They raised a family and were together for thirty years. In 1994, Virgil married Margaret Fox, whom he met in Australia through square dancing. Virgil and Margaret enjoyed two homes–one in Hancock, Michigan and the other in Melbourne, Australia. They decided to permanently reside in Australia in 2018.
Never forgetting his Copper Country roots, Virgil enjoyed telling anyone and everyone in Australia about “God’s Country in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.” He even put together a formal presentation and invited family, friends, neighbors and the retirement community men’s group to learn about his snowy home of many decades.
Virgil lived a full life travelling on two continents. When he stayed in one place long enough, his other passions included square dancing, rockhounding, stamp collecting, woodworking and many evenings of cards or dominoes with friends and family around the dining room table. Even at age 89, he was still competitive at cards and didn’t like to lose!
His faith was expressed more through actions than words. However, he liked to sum up his faith in his mother’s words, “God is good. God is everywhere. God is love.” Virgil always looked forward to attending the High Street Uniting Church and the Village Baxter Church in Australia.
He is survived by his wife Margaret in Australia; two daughters, Deborah (Thomas) McCray and Theresa (Matt) Nelson; grandsons Andrew (Audrey) and Benjamin (Jessica) McCray and John (Amber), Matthew (Christina) and Dalton Nelson; great-grandchildren Kateri, Collin, Evelyn and Eleanor McCray and Genesis and Walter Nelson.
Virgil is also survived by Margaret’s family in Australia who became his family through the heartstrings of love; children Elizabeth (James) Rand, Katherine (Charlie) Elliot, Robert (Eileen) Aitken-Fox and Peter (Trish) Fox. In addition, Virgil always thought of Wanda (Allen) Egerton as his oldest daughter. Grandchildren Lachlan (Jo), Cameron (Caitlin), Stewart (Mallory) and Douglas Rand, Jessica (Cameron) Trewin, Sarah Elliot, Scott Aitken, Jill (Rob) Pierre, Samantha and Kelly Aitken-Fox, Renee and Alex Fox; great-grandchildren Harvey and Abi Trewin and Max and Amelia Pierre.
To view Virgil’s Celebration of Life or to leave condolences for the family, please visit: www.bethel.etributes.com.au/etributes/virgil-snyder/