Charles Rogers Snead, 92 died Monday morning, October 25, 2021, at Huntsville Hospital. He was born August 18, 1929, in Covington, VA to Charles and Pattie Snead. Known to his friends and family as “Sam”, he was part of a big family of nine brothers and sisters.
Sam served in the Navy after graduating from Covington High school and was stationed in Patuxent River, MD and Key West, FL. He married Elizabeth Jean Davis of Wynne, AR on July 28, 1951. Sam received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Virginia in 1956 in Electrical Engineering. Sam and Jean had one son, Charles “Chuck” in 1958.
In 1960, they moved to Huntsville, AL where Sam worked at Redstone Arsenal in Systems Engineering, for the U.S. Army Missile Command. At the time of his retirement in 1987, he was Director of the Systems Engineering and Production Directorate. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntsville.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Thomas Snead, Richard Snead, and Bernard Snead, and sister, Virginia Snead. His wife of 70 years, Jean, died the day following his death. Sam is survived by his brother, Ralph Snead (Patsy); sisters, Betty Fitzgerald (Calvin), Nancy Church (Willard), Patricia Whitmer (Larry), and Mildred Rhodenizer (John); one son, Chuck (Lisa); and three grandchildren, Davis Snead, Taylor Snead and Maggie Snead. “Papaw” loved his grandchildren and was very generous to them always.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, October 29 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral will follow in the chapel with Rev. Mac Buttram officiating. A private burial will follow.
Memorials may be sent to Trinity United Methodist Church at 607 Airport Road, SW, Huntsville, AL, 35802.
