Roger Leon Snodderly

Roger Leon Snodderly, age 64, a resident of Parksville, British Columbia, passed away on July 7, 2021 at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

Roger was born in Ketchikan, Alaska to Leon and Gloria Snodderly. He attended school in the U.S. then Castlegar and Ladner, BC, graduating from Delta Sr. Secondary in Ladner in 1974 and continuing his education at Douglas College, Surrey campus. He spent many years as an active member of the Aldergrove United Church.

As a child in Castlegar, BC, Roger was a Junior Forest Warden. As a young man in Aldergrove, BC, he became a Junior Forest Warden Leader, leading his troop for many years on various outdoor, hiking, camping and canoeing adventures, including a multi day trip hiking the challenging West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island. In high school, Roger participated in Reach for the Top (a Canadian academic quiz competition for high school students). Roger also spent three years as a Royal Canadian Army Cadet and attended the Valcartier Cadet Training Centre located in Courcelette, Quebec and the Vernon Cadet Training Centre located in Vernon, British Columbia. Among his many adventures, he signed up to be an extra on movie sets around British Columbia’s lower mainland.

After 31 years of service, Roger retired from the Township of Langley, BC, Public Works & Operations. Following his retirement, he continued living in Aldergrove for a time before moving to Parksville, on Vancouver Island to be closer to one of his sisters and her family.

“What is the fun in planning your trip, the fun is in the discovery!” Roger L. Snodderly.

A member of the Canadian Youth Hostel Association and Hosteling International Canada, Roger was an adventurous and fearless traveler, backpacking through Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji; and traveling throughout the United States and Canada by bus, train, and plane. At one point, traveling by train to Churchill, Manitoba and joining a tundra buggy tour to view the polar bears because that was as far as his train ticket would take him. He always enjoyed finding unusual and thoughtful gifts for his nieces and nephews, spending extended time to make sure what he chose had just the right sentiment.

Finding dry humor in most situations, Roger was full of stories, he loved trivia, he was an avid old time radio buff, he had a keen interest in Canadian and US history, including military history, as well as current world and local events. He never stopped learning and read everything he could on subjects he was interested in at the time. Every day was an adventure and he enjoyed sharing stories of his adventures. A gentle kind soul who enjoyed meeting people, investigating new places, and exploring foods from many cultures wherever he traveled, near or far.

Roger is survived by his step-mother, Dona Snodderly, Bonney Lake, WA, and his siblings, Margie (Joe) Snodderly/Guariz, Manchester, WA, Gloria “Miki” (Lucky) Wywka/Butterworth, Parksville, BC, Cara Benner/Nygard, Ketchikan, AK, Rick (Sonja) Benner, Lake Tapps, WA, Gary (Deana) Benner, Washugal, WA, Julie (Mike) Benner/VanBuskirk, Wasilla, AK, and Ken (Gina) Snodderly, Bonney Lake, WA. Roger’s family also includes nephews, nieces, and cousins residing in British Columbia, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, California, and Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents: Gloria & Mike Wywka, Leon (Dona) Snodderly, his brothers, Royle (Jean) Snodderly, Michael J. Wywka, and sister Leslie Snodderly/Henwood.

“One way to get the most out of life

is to look upon it as an adventure.”

— William Feather