WEST BETHEL – Ronald “Ron” Snyder, 72, of West Bethel, died unexpectedly at his residence on Dec. 17.

He was born in Hartford, Conn., on Nov. 23, 1935, the son of the late Thomas and Margaret (Carling) Snyder, moving to the Bethel area in 1948, and graduated from Gould Academy in 1954.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1955, and served until 1957. He married Gloria Sweatt on Sept. 20, 1958. Ron had worked as a woodsman most of his life, working for Arthur Head from 1958 to 1981, at which time he started his own business as a logging subcontractor with P.H. Chadbourne and Co.

He retired in 2000, and was enjoying his retirement doing all the things he enjoyed like hunting, antler hunting, hiking, trapping and showing his knowledge of the outdoors to his grandkids and everyone that came across his path.

He was a member of the Bethel Historical Society, West Bethel Union Church and served on the Riverside Cemetery Association. In 2000, he was honored by the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce with the Forest Products Industry Award for his excellent professional standards.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Gloria of West Bethel; daughters, Robin Snyder of Laconia, N.H., Darlene Lailer and her husband, John, of West Baldwin, Susan Standeven and her husband, Doug, of Richmond, R.I., Sally Wardwell and her husband, Jeff, of Belmont, N.H., and Louise Rice and her husband, Willie of Bethel; a brother, Thomas C. Snyder of Franklin, N.H.; three sisters, Louise and Bob Fergurson of Killingworth, Conn., Vivian and Walter Dower of Portland, Conn., and Ron’s twin sister, Roberta and Dan Scribner of Harrison; nine grandchildren, Ronald Denison and William Denison, both of Harrison, Derek Standeven and Shawn Standeven, both of Richmond, R.I., Andrew Wardwell and Travis Wardwell, both of Belmont, N.H., and Charlie Rice, Jillian Rice and Jared Rice, all of Bethel; and two great-grandchildren, Hunter Denison of Harrison and Jayda Standeven of Richmond, R.I.

He was predeceased by a brother and sister-in-law, Randall and Margaret Snyder.