Leota R. Snyder Martin, 99, a former Clinton County resident, passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2017, at Bickford Cottage in Lafayette.
On September 19, 1918, Leota was born in Tippecanoe County to the late Charles and Retta Gable Peters. On December 24, 1940, she married David W. Snyder, a career Navy man, in New London, Conn.; he preceded her in death on June 18, 2004. Leota married Mulberry School classmate, Eugene F. Martin, on April 2, 2005, and they moved to Wesley Manor in Frankfort; he passed away on June 5, 2008.
Leota spent almost all of her youth on the family farm outside of Mulberry, graduated from Mulberry High School in 1936, and graduated from Purdue University School of Home Economics in 1940. In 1968, Leota received her masters of science degree while teaching at Southwestern High School and later Sunnyside Junior High School.
She and David planted and operated a tree farm near Mulberry from 1970 to 1991, before retiring to Mulberry Health and Retirement. Leota was a member of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Lafayette, having served as elder and deacon throughout her membership, and Madison Township Extension Homemakers Club and Home Study Club. She enjoyed reading, sewing, quilting, and gardening.
Surviving Leota are her sons, Robert W. (Julie) Snyder, of Lafayette, Dean E. (Mary Ellen) Snyder, of Brookfield, Ill., and Keith D. (Sherry) Brookeville, Maryland; step-children, Karen Hoffman, of Danielson, CT, Robert (Sandy) Martin, of Mishawaka, and Barbara (Sam) Richardson, of Northfield, Mass.; sister-in-law, Mary (Phil) Haper, of Lafayette; grandchildren, Roberta (Kyle) Kemmer, William (Benetta) Snyder, Michael (LeeAnn) Snyder, Stephen Snyder, Sarah Snyder, Tom Snyder, Sara (Chris) Nixon, Jim Daleidem, Max (Melissa) Snyder, Ruby (Steven) Gardner, and Russell (Irini) Snyder; great-grandchildren, Evin (Becky), Nathan, Kayla, Ruth, Eva, Carl, Rachel (Scott), Joshua, Gordon, Micha, Eli, and Apolo; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, December 8, 2017, at Genda Funeral Home Mulberry Chapel from noon to the start of the memorial service at 2:00 p.m. Chaplain Duane Peters will officiate. Inurnment will follow in Fair Haven Cemetery in Mulberry. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Leota’s name may be made to Bethany Presbyterian Church or Wesley Manor Good Samaritan Fund. Online condolences may be directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.