William E. ‘‘Duke’’ Snyder Jr.

He was born Feb. 17, 1937, in Sonestown, Pa., a son of the late William E. and Nedra T. Kline Snyder.

He graduated from the Sullivan Highland High School, a member of the class of 1955.

“Duke” was a man of many nicknames and talents. In the Silver Creek area where he lived for many years, he was known as “Duke” after the professional baseball player Duke Snider. To his family, he was either “Butch”, “Billy” or “Junior”. For 43 years, he worked many different jobs at the Bethlehem Steel Lackawanna Plant, ending his career working in the DX Room mixing the gases for steel processing. He was also a bonded locksmith and repaired hydraulic jacks. His talent was being able to fix anything, no matter how long it took or how often you skinned your knuckles. Many times, he would tear apart perfectly good items to figure out how they worked.

He was also an avid outdoorsman, hunting, fishing, or simply watching and tracking wildlife. He kept a record of all his hunting experiences from the age of 12. If you wanted to know what animal made that track or if groundhogs growled, you could ask Duke. He was also very involved with his garden each summer, doing research in the winter months on different methods of growing and cultivating crops.

Surviving are a sister, Rebecca Snyder and William Anderson Indiana, Pa.; nephews: Jay and Jennifer Snyder Alexandria, Va., and Richard and Karen Snyder Trinity, Fla.; great nieces: Katelyn Snyder and David Murr, Parkland, Fla., and Kelly Snyder Seattle, Wash.; cousins: Eugene and Ann Kline Watsontown, Pa., Coletta Katz Lauderdale by the Sea, Fla. Andy and Patty Kline Williamsport, Pa., Allison and Matt La Pointe Millington, N.J., and Pete and Charlotte McCall Suffolk, Va.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Russell (Skip) Snyder of Mineola, Texas in 2004; and sister-in-law, D. Louise Culver Snyder in 2021.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at 11 a.m., at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, Pa. Interment will be in the Mountain Ash Cemetery, Laporte, Pa.

Friends may call on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

The family will provide flowers.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Laporte Volunteer Fire Company, PO Box 31, Laporte, PA 18626 or the Silver Creek Volunteer Fire Department, 172 Central Ave., Silver Creek, NY 14136.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA 18614.

To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to homerfuneral home.com.