Roy Frances Snowden, was born January 30, 1907 in Rutland, Ohio. Originally he was named Frances Leroy Snowden before his name change to Roy Frances Snowden. Roy died January 29, 1978 in Rutland, Ohio and is buried in Miles Cemetery, also in Rutland OH, Meigs County.  Roy was the son of Ellsworth Cap Snowden and Frances Virginia Hull Snowden.  Roy married Reva Janice Snider Snowden in July of 1924.Reva was the daughter of John Henry Snider and Emma Jane Marchington Snider.

 Reva was born in Dexter Ohio on September 10, 1907, and died July 13, 1985. She is also buried in Miles Cemetery. 

 

ROY AND REVA SNOWDENS LIFE TOGETHER

   Roy was raised on his parents farm on Corn Hollow Road, off Beach Grove Road near Rutland, where he helped to mine the coal with hand picks and drive the horse drawn wagons. He attended school at Stout, near Langsville, and when the family later moved to Rutland to run a general store, he worked in the store, ran errands and attended Rutland High School. In front of him sat Reva Snider, whose pigtails he liked to pull, and whom he would marry in 1924.

    Reva was born in Dexter and attended school there. She was baptized by the Reverend George Ashton into the Church of Christ, and when she was eight, her mother died, and she went to live with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Nelson.  

   When Reva attended high school, Reva and her Dexter friends rode the train to Rutland on Sunday and roomed with people in town, paying about fifty cents a month for the room they shared. They did their own cooking and rode the train back to Dexter on Friday evening.

    Roy was a member of the first football team at Rutland High School. Before he graduated in 1925, he and Reva had a son, Leland.  In 1925 after graduation, the family moved to Athens where Roy attended Ohio University to receive his teaching certificate. They returned to Rutland where Roy taught at Stout and Zion Schools for a year each, and Reva graduated from Rutland High School in 1927. Roy later taught five years at Beech Grove School and was a bus driver for sixteen years, owning his own bus for three years.

        Roy and Reva operated a taxi service for several years and worked at Canaday's Meat Market before both became involved in postal careers. Roy was a mail carrier and clerk and Reva was postmaster until compulsory age 70 forced her retirement in 1977.

        Five children were born: Leland,  Jean, Carroll, Joan and Phyllis.

        Roy and Reva were involved in school and community activities including Athletic Boosters, Leading Creek Watershed, Rutland Fire Department, and the Rutland Church of Christ. Reva was a member of the Rutland Garden Club and both she and Roy were noted for their beautiful garden of flowers.

         The Snowden's built their ranch style house, with the help of family members, on Salem Street in 1957. This, and their daughter Jean's home next door, will be remembered for extensive lighting decorations at Christmas. Their granddaughter Suzy  currently owns the home on Salem street.

         Roy and Reva are now both buried at Miles Cemetery, in Rutland Ohio.