Wallace Snedeker

January 26, 1928 - April 4, 2022

SNEDEKER Wallace (Wally) Snedeker died as he lived, peacefully, at home on April 4, 2022 with his wife, Wanda, and family surrounding him with love. Wally’s high school yearbook quote “A happy disposition, like dollars, will pay your way many a time” was proven true as his 94 year walk through this world was a blessing to him because he blessed so many. On January 26, 1928, Wallace Snedeker came into the world with a name so strong there was no need for a middle one. He was raised by a single mom, Alice Snedeker, and his grandmother, Amy Snedeker, in Coshocton, OH, in the austerity of the Great Depression. In 1945, in the midst of WWII, he attempted to enlist in the Navy but was told he had to wait until after graduation. In 1946 Wally enlisted and entered basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, passed the EDDY test and reported to the rigorous electronics training at Treasure Island in San Francisco, CA. Following his service, he completed a full year Radio, Electronics and Television school (RETS) and several Dale Carnegie courses which helped a shy young man take on leadership roles and “win friends and influence people.” After discharge from the Navy, Wally worked for Ohio Power and North American Aviation in Columbus, OH. Wally was married to Catherine “Cathy” Lockard from April 29, 1950 to 1983. Together they raised four children: Robert (Bob), Craig, Lisa and David. Wally and Cathy moved with their family as Wally’s new career, cable television, took them to Cambridge, OH, Beaver Falls, PA, back to their hometown of Cochocton, OH and then to Springfield, IL. Catherine died on April 24, 2011. In 1955, Wally went to work for Tower Antennas in Cambridge, OH, and helped build one of the first cable television systems in the country. He was an innovator in the infancy of this industry. He did everything from climb poles, design equipment, negotiate cable franchises, develop marketing campaigns, create customer service programs and manage cable systems. When Wally and Cathy moved to Beaver Falls, PA, he built the first cable system in the US to distribute signals on channels 7-13. During his time there, he began a long tradition of community service to represent his industry and to live out his own belief in doing good. He served on various boards and was the president of the volunteer fire department when he left. Wally’s career move in 1970 was to be Director of Systems for Tower Communications in his hometown of Coshocton. In 1979 he became General Manager of Times Mirror Cable TV’s largest cable system in Springfield, IL, where he rebuilt the system and incorporated better customer service, his hallmark. In 1982, Wally accepted the position of Vice-President and General Manager of Kankakee TV Cable and the local origination Channel 6, subsidiaries of Mid-America Media. In addition to building the subscriber base, Wally was one of the first to launch the Disney Channel and the first in the US to do a direct feed of the Easter Seal Telethon to a cable system. Wally married Wanda Cravens Smith on May 3, 1984 in Kankakee, IL. Together they raised her two children, Matt and Sarah Smith, and he became a dad to them. During their time in Kankakee, Wally was inducted into the Cable Television Pioneers Club in1986 for his many accomplishments. When the cable system was sold in 1987, Wally did consulting work. In 1988 Wally took what he described as “the best job I ever had.” He joined Schurz Communications as Vice President and General Manager of Cable TV of Coral Springs, Florida. As one of his many accomplishments, he generated a marketing campaign to rename the system Advanced Cable Communications to better reflect the leap into fiber optics, internet and telephone service that he brought to the customers. He retired in 1999 culminating a 44 year career. He had gone from the beginnings of an industry using antennas to the most modern technology available at the time. Wally recently completed an interview with the Cable Center in Denver, CO, giving his video and oral history in cable television. It is available at The Hauser Oral History Project https://cablecenter.org/51-the-oral-history-project/s-listings/1860-wally-snedeker. Wally and Wanda retired to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, then to Tellico Village in Loudon, TN. They moved to Buford, GA, in 2019. Wally was a member and served on the boards of state and national cable television associations. His charitable and civic contributions are too long to list them all. Easter Seals, American Heart Association, Chamber of Commerce, Community Chest and Toys for Tots were but a few who honored him over the years. He belonged to the Rotary Club in each place he lived and served as President of Kankakee Rotary. The cornerstone of Wally’s life was his Christian faith. He and Cathy raised their family in the Catholic Church and were active in their parishes. His quiet faith was put into action wherever he lived. Later in life he was baptized at Coral Baptist Church in Coral Springs. He used his electronics skills to lead audio/video team ministry at both Coral Baptist Church and at First Baptist Church in Tellico Village. He televised services in Coral Springs and brought special services like the Living Christmas Tree to thousands. When Coral Baptist outgrew its building, Wally helped negotiate with the City of Coral Springs to purchase land at a favorable price for the church to build what is now The Church at the Glades, a mega-church serving thousands. Wally served as building team chair for the existing sanctuary at First Baptist Church of Tellico Village and also chaired the audio/video team that supported the expanded ministry there. Upon the move to Buford, Wally and Wanda became members of the Ivy Creek Baptist Church and during the pandemic regularly attended Zoom Bible Study with the Emmaus class and attended church online. Wally loved to golf and watch and attend PGA events. He played courses all over the country and collected special golf balls as a hobby. He had an active mind even at 94. He loved to solve problems and fix things ever since he was a little boy. When he visited his adult kids, he always found something to fix around their house. He loved working puzzles, sudoku, oil painting, eating pretzels and pub cheese, playing Farmville with family, Scrabble, Clash of Clans with his clan buddies, and fantasy baseball and football. Wally was full of integrity and honor with a gentle soul, impeccable work ethic, a brilliant mind, a kind heart and a great sense of humor. At age 92, Wally and Wanda added their beloved dog, Lucy, into their lives. She brought him great joy and comfort. Wally’s greatest pride was the legacy of family. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Wanda; six children and their spouses: Robert “Bob” (Brenda Bible), Craig (Amy Finan), Lisa Tewell (Thomas “Rick” Tewell), David Snedeker (Amy Wieczorek), Matt Smith (Lynne Saskowicz) and Sarah Smith; 11 grandchildren: Jessica Bailey (Mike), Michael Snedeker (Hannah), Mary Davis (James), John Snedeker (Amber), Katherine “Kate” Snedeker, Caroline Snedeker, Christian Tewell, Valerie Desrosier (Peter), Annie Snedeker, Brennan Smith and Brady Smith; 17 great grandchildren (18th on the way) include: George, Sullivan, Lochlan, Avonlea and Emmeline Bailey; Sawyer, November, William and Sebastian Snedeker; Blaise, Arden and Juliet and Baby Davis; Ruthie, Robert “Robby”, Jane, Thomas “Tommy” and Mary Anne Snedeker. Wally is also survived by his niece, Nicole Camarillo and her children, Nathan and Natalie, and a large extended family by marriage who loved him dearly. Wally’s mother, Alice Snedeker Tidball, his stepfather, Dewey (Pat) Tidball and half brother, David Tidball, preceded him in death. Thank you to all for the outpouring of loving support throughout the years and especially in recent times. “Wally”, “Dad”, “Sned”, “Daddio”, “Grandpa”, “Papa Sned”, “Uncle Wally”, “Great Grandpa” - our beloved patriarch will live in our hearts forever. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: www.grayforglioblastoma.com/donate. Wally’s son, Craig, has glioblastoma and his daughter, Kate Snedeker, created this charity to fund research and bring awareness to this life threatening cancer. A memorial service at Flanigan’s Funeral Home in Buford, GA, will be held Saturday, April 30, 2022, with visitation from 1-3 pm and service at 3:00 pm A memorial service will also be held at First Baptist Church, Tellico Village in Loudon, TN, on Saturday, May 7, 2022, with visitation from 12-2 pm and a service at 2:00 pm. A final memorial service will take place in OH, at a date to be determined. Interment of ashes will be in Southlawn Cemetery in Coshocton.