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| Wilson Snell 1958 |
Wilson Snell May 7, 1936 - November 18, 2015
Wilson M. Snell, 79, of Harrisonburg, passed away Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at Sentara RMH Medical Center.
Wilson was born in Charlotte, NC, on May 7, 1936, and was a son of the late Maude (Propst) and Wilson Cates Snell.
He retired from Dunham Bush in 2002 where he worked as a sales manager. He was a graduate of Belmont Abby College and had served in the National Guard during Vietnam.
On September 5, 1981, he was united in marriage to Pamela E. (Riefe) Snell, who survives.
Wilson is also survived by two daughters, Virginia Page Barth, Journie Cifelli and husband Rob; a son, Gordon Snell; three grandchildren, Jonathan Morgan Barth, Christopher and Anna Cates Cifelli.
A memorial service will be conducted 2PM Saturday, November 21, 2015 at Johnson Funeral Service in Bridgewater, with Pastor Tom Holden officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the family home.
In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity of choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnsonfs.com.
Condolences may be made to his widow:
Mrs. Pamela Snell
1371 South Dogwood Dr.
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Email wsnell1@verizon.net
WilsonBy Ed Myers
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| Wilson's Boyhood Home |
Wilson was one of my oldest friends. He lived in what the Charlotte Observer called not many years ago "The Oldest Farm House in Mecklenburg County." Or maybe they called the "Last surviving Farm House," whatever, I loved that house. The backyard was about 40 yards from the railroad tracks that run almost parallel to East 7th Street. Weddington Ave was the name of the street. It was a major
"get off and on" point for hobos visiting Charlotte because the trains regularly stopped there for whatever reason. It was a great spot for little boys to get a close up look at trains.
I use that word, "Study" very loosely. I've written here before how we "studied." We spent all afternoon one day trying to discover the meaning of "reasonable facsimile," so we could make a couple of a Ralston Cereal Box Tops to send in for a TOM MIX decoder ring. It took the entire afternoon, but I guess we finally made one or two, because a few weeks later we received the rings.
We both agreed to tally that up to 3 hours of "study."
Wilson was always to first to be picked for our sandlot football games because he was the biggest kid in our neighborhood. He was also chosen as our gang's boxing champion. I think he won most of his matches, but he would have won them all if we had been able to ever get him "mad" at his opponent.
But he never did. I don't remember his ever "getting mad" at anyone.
By the time we got to Central, most of "our gang" had caught up, size wise, with Wilson so you probably don't remember him as being particularly "big."
But those of us who knew him well also knew of his "big heart."
Rest in Peace, Wilson.
-Ed
