R. Sneath

______________________________________________________________________________________

Robert Arvel (R.A.) Sneath, Jr. passed away on Friday, March 28, 2008, at St. Catherine Center in Waco, Texas, at the age of 89 years. He was preceded in death in 2005 by his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Ferne Lee Sneath.

Following a graveside service at 11 a.m. Monday, March 31, 2008 at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, a memorial service will be held at the chapel at St. Catherine Center at 300 W. Highway 6 in Waco at 2 pm, on Monday, March 31, 2008, officiated by Dr. Raymond Bailey, pastor of 7th and James Baptist Church.

There will be no formal visitation times, but friends are invited to visit OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd., to sign the register.

Born to Robert Arvel Sneath and Belle Sneath on Spur, Texas on October 18, 1918, he graduated from Breckenridge High School, Breckenridge, Texas, and married Ferne Frost in March of 1945. The couple moved to Odessa, Texas in May of 1948.

Mr. Sneath served in the U.S. Navy from September of 1942 until June of 1945 and was a Navy signalman in the South Pacific during the World War II, during which tour he was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart.

A devoted husband and father, Mr. Sneath was an employee of Firestone for more than 50 years, 35 of which were spent in Odessa, Texas. Mr. Sneath was a member of the McFarland Masonic Lodge and was also active in civic and community affairs in Odessa.

He helped organize and charter the first Optimist Club in Odessa, was President of the Downtown Merchants' Association, and was a longtime member of the Crescent Park Baptist Church.

He is survived by:

a sister, Anna Doris Tidrow and her husband, Douglas of Wichita Falls;

daughter, Robbie Echols and her husband, Daryle, of Waco, Texas;

son, Lee Sneath and his wife, Pam, of Dallas, Texas;

grandson, Eric Echols and his wife, Kim in Baltimore, Maryland;

granddaughter, Ashley Echols, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

granddaughter, Alison Gionis, of Melbourne, Florida;

sister-in-law, Kitty Norris, of San Antonio;

brother-in-law, Robert Frost and his wife, Elaine, of St. Louis, Missouri; and

numerous loving friends, nieces and nephews.


MEMORIALS

Memorials in Mr. Sneath's honor may be made to the church or charitable organization of choice.