Piqua Daily Call

Wednesday, May 31, 1967  

Piqua Man Found Dead In Auto  

Donald H. Snyder, 54, of 1130 Camp, a Piqua rural mail carrier more than 18 years who also carried a rural motor route for the Piqua Daily Call, was found dead by his wife seated in his automobile in the garage shortly after 6 a.m. today. Although there was no official finding by the county coroner at noon today, police said Snyder’s death was obviously a suicide from carbon monoxide poisoning. The police report stated that Mrs. Snyder found a garden hose attached to the exhaust of the automobile and the open end sticking inside the right rear window.  It was the same hose with a piece cut off, that he had used in an unsuccessful attempt on his own life April 3, police said. Mrs. Snyder said her husband apparently left the house sometime during the night, after an argument in which she told him of an appointment she had this morning with an attorney. Born in Miami County, he was a son of William M. and Mary M Hilliard Snyder.  He was a graduate of Piqua schools and his marriage to the former Patricia Harris took placed Aug. 6, 1948 at Lynn, Ind.   Mr. Snyder was a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office here the past 18 years, a rural carrier for the Piqua Daily Call and was a part time investigator with the Piqua Retail Credit Co.  He earlier had been employed with the Piqua Police Department. He was a member of the Congregational Christian United Church of Christ, the Piqua Elks and Moose Lodges. Surviving is his wife, Patricia, a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Sturm (Beverly) of Englewood; a step-daughter, Mrs. Daniel Hartman (Rhoda) of Troy; three grandchildren; four brothers, Marvin in Germany, Willard of Palestine, Texas and Marling and Leonard, both of Piqua; three sisters, Mrs. Harry Hart (Harriet) of Covington, Mrs. Kenneth Blue (Ruth) of Cincinnati and Mrs. William Baker (Esther) of Piqua.  A brother and a sister preceded in death. The Rev. Warren Smith will conduct services at 10 a.m. Friday in the Jamieson Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 3 p.m. Thursday and the family will receive there from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.  The Elks Lodge will have services at the funeral home at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Provided by Roger A. Hopkins