BBBTV12 Serving Anderson, Roane, and Morgan Counties
James Watson “Papa Jim” Snider, 94, stopped making puzzles upside down on August 14, 2024. Born on a farm in Schley County, GA on October 6, 1929, he passed peacefully at home surrounded by family and underneath the picture of his dear, departed wife Dorris. He often bragged about the good life he lived and his loving family.
He was very happily married for 65 years to his loving wife Dorris Barnes Snider who passed on November 14, 2019.
He was very proud of his three boys and their families. Sons: Dave (Tia) of Oak Ridge, Tony (Sharon) of Oak Ridge, and Todd (Gwyn) of South Carolina. Grandchildren: Dave’s son, Dillon (Andrea, great-grandkids Declan and Melina); Todd’s daughter Melanie; Tony’s children, Hannah and Christopher; and bonus grandchildren Christopher and DK, who came into the family as adults.
He took credit for the Great Depression which started when the Wall Street Stock Market crashed a few weeks after he was born. With common sense learned as a boy on the farm and technical knowledge learned as a Chemical Engineer, he understood in detail how the world worked. He passed his common sense down to his sons while respecting their right to live their own lives.
A true lover of life he had a great sense of humor and was always happy – lots of laughter about the place. He was friendly and talked to everyone all the same. A U.S. Air Force veteran he was one of three survivors of a tragic B-29 Superfortress crash. He wrote an engaging book about his life covering his upbringing, fantastic marriage, and family life, and a successful 37-year career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His natural curiosity was demonstrated by taking apart a fast-food French fry box to figure out how they designed and assembled the paper cutout – who else would care?
Proving that good stock can come from humble beginnings his immediate and extended family is filled with nothing but decent, hardworking, and successful folk. Others preceding him in death were his parents (Walter and Florette Snider) and brother Freddie.
Survivors include brother Lamar of Texas, sister Stephanie Holloway (Mickey) of Georgia, and several tons of nieces and nephews and beyond scattered across the southeastern U.S.A. Remarkably, he still has three first cousins living well in their mid-90s. Family, friends, and former co-workers know how lucky and blessed they are to have had Papa Jim around for so long.
In his memory, he requested only that we all be good people and enjoy happy lives.
Receiving friends from 5 to 6 PM with service immediately following on Friday, August 16, at Weatherford Mortuary, Oak Ridge. Graveside services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, August 17, at the Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
