Jim Snodgrass

James (Jim) Benjamin Snodgrass, 87, born March 23, 1931, died peacefully at Park Place Elder Care with his loving family by his side.

Visitation will begin after 12 noon on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. that evening. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, March 1, 2019, at Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel, with Reverend Deborah Stowers officiating. Military rites will be accorded by Henry County Honor Guard. Burial will be at Chariton Cemetery in Chariton, IA. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers gifts of love and friendship be given to First United Methodist Church Foundation or Southeastern Renal Dialysis of Mt. Pleasant. On-line condolences may be directed to www.olsonpowell.com.

Born in Lucas County, Iowa to James Benjamin and Avanelle (Bryan) Snodgrass, Jim graduated from Lucas High School and began working with Edmond Stone Sons in Chariton Iowa. Jim was united in marriage to Helen (White) Snodgrass of Chariton on Nov. 18, 1951.

On December 26, 1951, Jim joined the United States Air Force and received his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas. He was then transferred to Shepard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX to train as an aircraft electrician. He later was deployed to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines during the Korean conflict. He felt very privileged to have been a part of the Honors Flight program in the fall of 2018.

Jim started his telephone career as a lineman with Lucas County Telephone Company in Chariton Iowa which later became a part of the Contel Telephone System. While he was in Chariton, he started the Knoxville, IA Training Center and before completing his career, was the Eastern Iowa Customer Service Manager with Contel Telephone in Mt. Pleasant. His career spanned 35 years and he enjoyed every day of it.

Jim reveled in his sports; golfing, fishing, hunting, watching car races particularly the Daytona 500 and was a die-hard University of Iowa fan. Amazingly it seemed he could fix anything! He loved his 24 winters in Casa Grande, AZ. And most of all loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren whether it was playing in the rain with Carson and attending his games or lining up beanie babies in the doll house with Isla or loving up the babies, Elliana and Kennedy.

Jim served in numerous community groups over the years knowing the value of volunteering.

Along with his loving wife, of 67 years, Helen, Jim is survived by two sons and daughter-in-laws; Michael James (Susan) Snodgrass of Naples, FL, David Lee (Barbara) Snodgrass of Mt. Pleasant, IA; 5 grandchildren, Jon (Stephanie) Snodgrass of Northfield, MN, Ryan (Lana Tran) Snodgrass of Marshall, MN and Brent (Sarah) Snodgrass of Marshall, MN, Kelli (Ty) Welu of Peosta, IA and Heidi (Kelby) Wheeler of Washington, IA; and four great grandchildren. Jims also survived by a sister Maxine Pennington of Magnolia, TX; two brothers, Donald D. Snodgrass of Carlisle, IA and Gene D. (Geri) Snodgrass of Indianola, IA; and a sister-in-law Geneva Wilson of Chariton, IA.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents;four siblings; Bobbie Snodgrass who died in infancy, Katie Ann Snodgrass who died in infancy, Helen Jo (Kenneth) Marker, and Mary (Harold) Culbertson; two brothers-in-law,Joe Pennington and Clarence Wilson; and a sister-in-law, Marilyn (Don) Snodgrass.