Funeral services for Theodore E. "Ted" Snider, PhD will be at 10:30 am Friday, December 21, 2018 in the First Baptist Church, Cache, Oklahoma with Rev. Trey Graham, Pastor officiating.

Burial will be in the Cache Cemetery under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

The family will greet friends Thursday evening from 6pm until 8pm at the funeral home.

Theodore E. "Ted" Snider, PhD, 75, Cache passed away Sunday, December 16, 2018 in Lawton.  He was born April 22, 1943 in Pittsburg, Kansas to Floyd W. and Norma (Blasor) Snider.  He married Linda Lewis on June 21, 1968 in Haywood, Oklahoma.

After completing a Master of Science degree in organic chemistry from Kansas State College of Pittsburg in 1966, Ted Snider, (organic chemist), began his teaching career in January 1967 at Eastern Oklahoma State College and left in 1968 to begin his 40-year career at Cameron University. At that time, the department did not have a secretary and there was only one phone in the building in the departmental office.  A pay phone in the hallway was very popular with the students across campus as it really didn't take any money and would periodically refund money added if you thought to press the coin return. (Dr. Snider's children learned this very early in life.) Several times over the next 30 years the phone company was called to repair the phone, but the "problem" was never resolved.

During the early years of Ted's career, he was given the opportunity to attend Oklahoma State University to study for his doctoral degree in organic chemistry, which he completed in 1972. At Cameron, Dr. Ted Snider earned the rank of Assistant Professor in 1971, Associate Professor in 1974, and Professor in 1978, receiving the Distinguished Faculty Award in 1979. He became a fixture in the Department of Physical Sciences (currently the Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering), during his 40 year presence. His contributions were critical for the transition of the department from that of a junior college to the four year Cameron College and subsequently, Cameron University. Ted was one of the primary reasons that the chemistry program at Cameron University became a leading undergraduate chemistry program in the state. The incredible success of the graduates over the years while he was employed at Cameron was a testimony to his vision and leadership as department chair (from 1989 to 1998) and to his creativity, innovation, high academic standards, and strong work ethic as an educator inside and outside of the classroom.

While at Cameron University, Ted was involved with the building of award winning homecoming floats, writing and editing laboratory manuals for General Chemistry and Biochemistry labs, served as Cameron Coordinator of the Louis Stokes program for minority students, served on numerous university committees including General Education, Curriculum, and advisory committees, helped Boy Scouts earn merit badges, had significant input into the design of the Sciences Complex building which was completed in 1996, helped spearhead the effort into obtaining the American Chemical Society certification of the chemistry program, and much more. He was a great mentor for new faculty members and to faculty members new to the chair position. He was also a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon, Sigma Xi, and a 50-year member of the American Chemical Society.

Dr. Snider forged many life-time relationships with students. Homecoming, construction of homecoming floats, organizing and directing the "Dirty Thirty Kazoo Band" for several homecoming parades, summer canoe trips with the summer high school academies, building concrete canoes, and trips to professional meetings with the students were all fun experiences that Ted fondly remembered with past students and faculty.

In 2016, Dr. Ted Snider and his wife, Linda, also graciously established the Dr. Theodore and Linda Snider Endowed Lectureship in Chemistry which is currently used to advance the quality of education in the study of chemistry at Cameron University. Along with their private financial gift, another portion of this endowment was also generated by the proceeds from the sales of the chemistry laboratory manuals that Ted wrote and edited. This endowment will continue to help students for many years to come. Ted was also the recipient of the 2003 Harold and Elizabeth Hackler Teaching Excellence Award which is Cameron's highest faculty honor and he was named Faculty Emeritus upon his retirement in May 2008.

Since retirement, Ted was still active in the community and in learning new things. He served on the Board of Directors at Southwest Oklahoma Federal Credit Union from March 2011 to current. He also learned how to blow glass and loved creating glass flowers and jewelry to give to friends and family. One of his specialties was turning trash into new treasures, specifically the stool made from a washing machine agitator, complete with a horse feed sack seat. He won a blue ribbon at the county fair for that stool. He also made an arrow quiver out of an old leather recliner and picture frames from old wood. He had high aspirations of restoring an old 1951 MG-TD sportscar, but never finished it as other hobbies took more of a priority.

His favorite hobby was reading. He loved reading science fiction and westerns, with his favorite author being Louis L'Amour. He also loved watching any John Wayne movie when it was on, and his favorite TV program was NCIS. He would watch new programs and the reruns, and was very sad when Abby left the show. He still watched it, but said it wasn't the same. He also never missed Jeopardy, even applying to be on the show twice. He always had to have Linda's help in typing in the answers as she was a faster typist than he was. He and Linda also always had a standing date on Saturday nights at 7:00 to watch Lawrence Welk.

Dr. Snider loved singing and making music. He enjoyed singing in Handel's Messiah with the Lawton Community Choir for several years. He also played the part of Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady. He was the interim music minister many times for his church throughout the years, and directed the children's choir for many years, as well as sang in many church quartets. He especially loved singing old gospel songs and hymns, with "Dwelling in Beulah Land" and "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" being his favorites. Ted and Linda have been active members of the First Baptist Church in Cache since 2011.

Ted enjoyed traveling, but didn't do much until after retirement. His favorite vacation was going to Eastern Europe to visit Holly when she lived there. He also recently traveled to Alaska and Yellowstone. His most recent trip was to Branson, Missouri, in September when all 4 of his siblings met together for a reunion. It was the first time that all 5 siblings had been together in 20 years!

Ted also loved spending time with his family. He was always willing to help tutor his kids, grandkids, and nieces—many times over the phone—in chemistry. He loved attending events for his grandkids and went to as many as he could. He also went on several vacations with his family. From driving to Disney World in the middle of the night to visiting Hawaii to going on vacations and cruises with his grown children, he always enjoyed the time together. One thing he especially enjoyed was playing Scattergories with the family. He would always make us laugh at some of his responses.

He was an outstanding professor, friend, husband, dad, father-in-law, and papa, loved, respected, and missed by all.

Ted is survived by his wife Linda of the home, a son Tim Snider and wife Julie of Glencoe, Oklahoma, daughter Holly Willis and husband Terry of North Richland Hills, Texas; grandchildren, Aubrey Snider, Lillie Snider, Samuel Snider; his brothers, Bill Snider and wife Jan of Dothan, Alabama, Phillip Snider and wife Lori of Mission Viejo, California, David Snider of Pittsburg, Kansas; his sister Stephanie Russell of O'Fallon, Illinois; his loyal dog Sophie and numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins, family members, work colleagues and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Dr. Theodore and Linda Snider Endowed Lectureship in Chemistry at Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma at 580-581-2999 or advancement@cameron.edu (make checks payable to the Cameron University Foundation with Ted Snider Endowment in the subject line) or to the Family Life Center Building Fund at First Baptist Church, Cache, Oklahoma.