Ruth Snyder

Ruth Louise Roberts Snyder passed away April 13th, 2023, surrounded by loving family and friends at her home in Saugerties, NY at the age of 88. 

She was born in Kingston, NY on March 24th, 1935 to her doting parents, the late Ruth G. & James B. Roberts.

Ruth grew up in Poughkeepsie and Kingston, graduating from Kingston High School in 1952. She completed secretarial training at the Wood School in New York City, and was employed by Kingston High School, GE, Kingston Hospital, and IBM.

On January 28th, 1956 she married the love of her life, Paul J. Snyder, and together they lived in Schenectady, Kingston, for over 50 years in Ulster Park, and most recently in Saugerties. She was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church at Clinton Ave, Town of Esopus, and Saugerties. 

She enjoyed collecting, assembling impressive salt & pepper shaker and napkin collections in her youth, and hunting down antique postcards with her husband. Her meticulously curated and annotated photo albums are a cherished family treasure.

In her 65 years of marriage with Paul, they were blessed with three children; namely, Debra S. Golis of Boynton Beach, FL, James R. Snyder (Judy) of West Hurley, and Karen S. Byrne (Douglas) of Saugerties. She was further blessed with five grandchildren: Cynthia and Nathan Snyder, and Kevin, Ian, and Allison Byrne. In addition to her children and grandchildren, she is survived by sister-in-law Mary Lou S. Wickham (Jack) of Glen Arm, MD, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband Paul J. Snyder, and Debra’s fiancé, Curt Heaberlin. 

Words fail to sufficiently describe just how extraordinarily kind, thoughtful, and gentle Ruth was, but to all who had the good fortune to spend any amount of time with her, it was self-evident. In her own draft of her obituary, Ruth wrote that “she always felt she had been surrounded by loving family, and had shared happy occasions with friends.” Thankfully, she was, and she did, right to the very end. 

Arrangements entrusted to Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc., 326 Albany Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401, where family and friends may visit on Friday, April 28, 2023 from 4pm to 7pm. The funeral service will take place at Saugerties United Methodist Church, 67 Washington Avenue, Saugerties, NY 12477 at 11:00am. Burial will follow at Chestnut Hill Cemetery. A tribute for Ruth may be found at www.KeyserFuneralService.com, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for her family.