Blanche Louise "Bonnie" (Howland) Snedeker

Blanche Louise “Bonnie” Snedeker, 91, of Lewistown, died at 1:45 a.m., Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at her home.

Born October 3, 1925, in Rogues Harbor, Ithaca, New York, she was the daughter of the late John Wesley and Mabel (Moseley) Howland. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by:  her husband of 72 years, William H. Snedeker IV, on June 13, 2015, and a brother and sister-in-law, Roland J. Howland and his wife, Scandera, of Spring, Texas.  

She is survived by: a son, Jan G. Snedeker and wife, Cathe, of Belleville; a daughter, Karen L. Snedeker, of Lewistown; two grandsons, Jess G. Snedeker and wife, Carly, of Zurich, Switzerland and their daughters, Mea and Rowan, and Benjamin Snedeker and wife, Elisha, of Bala Cynwyd, Pa. and their sons, W. Henry and Ian; and many nieces and nephews.

Bonnie was a graduate of Rider University, Lawrenceville, N.J., where she was a member of the archery and bowling teams, the Drama Guild, and Chi Chapter, Eta Upsilon Gamma Sorority.

For several years, she worked in public relations in the Harrisburg and Lewistown areas, and later, as a columnist and reporter for The Sentinel.

She was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lewistown.

A strong advocate for animal rights and environmental causes, Bonnie was active in numerous organizations, among them the Moshannon Group of the Sierra Club and The Humane Society of the United States, under which she and her husband established a Wildlife Land Trust sanctuary in perpetuity.

Bonnie was a life member and past president of the Lewistown Hospital Auxiliary and served on the Lewistown Hospital Board. She was a member of the Mifflin County Garden Club, the Juniata Valley Mental Health-Mental Retardation Agency, the Lewistown Parking Authority, and was an American Red Cross volunteer.  

At her request, a private family memorial service will be held at a future date.

If one should so choose, memorial contributions may be made to: St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 120 N. Main St., Lewistown, PA or to: Rescue Our Furry Friends (ROFF), 133 N. Walnut St., Burnham, PA 17009.  

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