William "Bill" Rudolph Snyder, 86, of Columbia, died Sunday, April 14, 2024. He was born to the late William R. Snyder, Sr., and Eleanora Talbot Snyder in Jamacia, NY on December 30, 1937. He was the eldest of five children. At the age of seventeen, being restless, he joined the US Army to serve his county. Little did he know this was the beginning of his service and travels. His twenty-four-years of military service include multiple stateside duty assignments, two tours in Vietnam, an assignment in the US Embassy, Paris France, and three assignments in Germany. Bill believed in God, family, duty, education, and service.

Following his Army retirement, he joined the Columbia Police Department and later was an investigator for the University of SC Division of Law Enforcement & Safety. He loved law enforcement and opportunities working special assignments with the US Marshalls. While working the "streets" as a "cop" he continued his formal education earning his BA in History from the University of South Carolina.

Bill loved his wife's family as his own and they visited them often in Germany. Bill was a great storyteller of history to include his first-hand living history, of people's survival and changes in general. His sister-in-law once mentioned that his knows more about the family history than family members and more of German history and politics than most Germans. Bill and his wife loved to travel and saw the world by train, air, and sea. They loved long cruises.

He is survived by his sister, Betty Ann Snyder of NY; two daughters, Sylvia Rollison-Sieg of Lexington SC, and Catherine "Cathy" Snyder Lofland (Lyon) of Eagle Lake Texas; son, Eric Snyder, US Army Retired (Rebecca) of Lexington SC; eight grandchildren, Kevin Rollison USMC Retired (Susan), Steven Rollison US Army (Sherri), Misty Rollison, Rachel Snyder Fischetti (Partick), Anna Snyder Arias (Treavor), Jacob Snyder, William Lofland, and Samatha Lofland; and great granddaughters, Rachael Rollison, Danielia Rollison, Cali Ann Cates, Stephanie Rollison, and Serenity Rollison; and great grandson, Steven Lee Rollison.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife of 56 years, Elisabeth Seuberling Snyder; son, Michael James Snyder; brother, Edward "Eddie" Snyder of Brooklyn, NY; and sisters, Eleanor Franklin and Grace Reid, both of Daytona Florida.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, April 19, at 10:30 o'clock, at Lady of the Hills Catholic Church, 120 Marydale Lane, Columbia, SC. The family will receive friends at the church an hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Fort Jackson National Cemetery at a later date, 4170 Percival Road. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to a charity of your choice.