Professor Melvin H. Mel Snyder

Snyder, Professor Melvin “Mel” Henry, 90, died on February 25, 2012. Rosary is 6:00 P.M. Monday, February 27 and memorial service is 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, February 28, both at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Mel is preceded in death by parents, Florence Ruby (Snyder) Snyder and Melvin Henry Snyder, Sr., his first wife, Jeanne Marie (King) Snyder, younger brother John “Jack” Henry Snyder, son-in-law Mark Shall and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years Cathleen “Kay” Ann (Collins) Snyder; their six beloved children, John Henry (Patricia) of Las Vegas, NV, Janet Ellen (Jeff Greenham) of Morgantown, WV, Mary Anne Shall of Beaverdam, VA, Ann Katherine Rishell (Michael) of Wichita, Susan Dolores (Michael Gebert) of Chicago, IL, and Robert Melvin George (Gina) of Powder Springs, GA; cherished grandchildren, Matthew Melvin George Snyder (Allison), Mark John Joseph Snyder, Juliette Sabine Rishell, Myles Henry Snyder Gebert, Liam George Snyder Gebert, Miller Henry Snyder, and Kathleen Ann Snyder; and sisters- and brothers-in-law, Mary Dolores (Collins) Crum (Charles), Robert Maurice Collins, Bernard George Collins and Joanne (Collins) Powers (Neil). Mel was born on September 22, 1921, in Wilkinsburg, PA. He grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated from William Penn High School in Penn Township, where he was Class President all four years. Mel earned a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1947; a M.S. Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Wichita in 1950; PhD in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1967. In the midst of his college years from 1943 to 1946, he served in the 9th Air Force. He served as Aircraft Engineering Officer for the P-47 Thunderbolt pursuit aircraft in England, France, and Germany, and was engaged the Battle of Normandy, and the campaigns of Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government in 1956. He ended his military career as a Major. Mel joined the W.U. faculty in February, 1947, reached the rank of Professor in 1957, and served 14 years as Chairman of the Aeronautical Engineering Department. He retired in 1997 as W.S.U. Professor Emeritus of Aerospace Engineering and Director Emeritus of the Center for Basic and Applied Research, National Institute for Aviation Research. Mel was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Additional Honors Dr. Snyder treasured were: A.S.E.E. Midwest Section, A.T. T. Foundation Award for Excellence in Instruction of Engineering Students and Outstanding Service Citation, 1984; Outstanding Engineering Faculty Member for Research, W.S.U. 1985; Outstanding Engineer Award, W.S.U. Deans Circle, 1992. Mel and his family are active in the Blessed Sacrament Parish. During sabbaticals and summers, Mel worked for the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics in Rhode-St-Genese, Belgium, and NASA Langley in Virginia and NASA Lewis in Cleveland, Ohio. The family would like to note their special thanks to Faye Martin and the staff at Good Shepherd Hospice and the aids at ComfortCare Morningside. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with Wichita State University Foundation, Professor Melvin H. Snyder Scholarship, Department of Aerospace Engineering and The Lords Diner, 520 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214. Rosary is 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church