llan Snyder, 77, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away April 10, 2010. Al was born January 26, 1933 to Paul and Ruth Snyder of Seattle, Washington.

In 1951 he graduated from West Seattle High School, where he met his future wife Laura. With the dream of becoming a pilot, Al joined the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Washington, but soon learned that his eyesight would prevent him from obtaining his goal.

Al and Laura were married in 1954, and upon graduating from University of Washington’s School of Business Administration in 1955 Al was drafted by the United States Army. For the next two years he was sent to duty in France with the Medical Corp. Al and Laura took advantage of off-duty time to travel to many of the countries in Europe. This led to numerous stories and fond memories, and spurred their lifelong love of travel. After returning to the United States, Al took a job with General Mills as a salesman for the next several years.

Al’s journey to Vashon started in 1938 when his parents purchased a summer cabin on the beach of Colvos Passage. He spent many weekends and summers there during his childhood. Long summer nights spent around the campfire within the cove’s neighborhood are cherished memories for the entire family. This property continues to be a favorite recreational spot for the family’s fourth generation.

In 1968 he and Laura built their family home on Vashon. He started a new job on the island employed by Kirschner Scientific, designing and selling veterinary cages and surgical supplies until the business’s purchase by an out-of-state company.

Deciding not to move their family from Vashon, Al and Laura pursued other plans. Always driven with a keen eye for business, Al studied the needs of the Island before deciding to open a hardware store. He drew up a business plan for Vashon True Value, which opened in October 1977 with four employees.

Customer service was paramount to Al — it was what he valued when developing his business and instilled in his employees. He set the bar of customer service high, many times exceeding customers’ expectations. Customer loyalty and employee loyalty have long been evident at True Value, with several generations of Island families employed at the family-owned business.

Al grew this business to include 14,000 square feet and more than 25 employees, until his retirement in 1999. After retiring, he loved to return to the store to help set up seasonal displays and decorations, especially the Christmas light display.

Volunteering in the community of Vashon was a passion for Al. He was a Weeblo and Indian Guide leader, coached Little League, and served as a volunteer with the Boy Scouts, Red Cross, Kiwanis, Vashon Emergency Preparedness and the Vashon Town Plan. He was also a member of DeMolay, an organization dedicated to teaching young men to be better people and leaders. Organizations Al was involved with included the Quartermaster Yacht Club, where he was a board member, the Tacoma Power Squadron and CHB boating group. He was also a part of the early Vashon Business Association, which has today become the Chamber of Commerce.

Al, who had a quick, dry sense of humor, enjoyed boating, gardening, travel, fishing and reading, and developed a passion for cooking and cooking shows later in life. His greatest pleasures came from his family and boating — and the maintenance of both. Always a fixer and putterer, he taught the family to take care of things and keep up on maintenance of their home and belongings.

A point of family humor and a continued memory is of Al’s time-consuming commitment to maintaining the road and ditches of the steep switchback road to his home. The neighbor and family have pledged to take on the task in his memory.

Al, an accomplished pianist, left behind Laura, his loving wife of 56 years, his children Steve (Melody) Snyder, Doug (Kathy) Snyder, and Jill (John) Yates, grandchildren Dustin Snyder, Casey Will, Sam and Wyatt Yates, and Elly Snyder.

Al will be greatly missed by his loving family and caring friends. Many thanks go to his wonderful caregivers and hospice providers.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Al’s memory may be made to Vashon Island School District,

P.O. Box 547, Vashon WA 98070, noting in the memory of Al Snyder.

A celebration of life will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 2, at Camp Burton

on Vashon Island. There will be a reception following the gathering.

(paid obituary)