Paul N. Snyder, 95, Western Electric retiree and former volunteer fireman

Army veteran Paul N. Snyder did not have a lot of money when he was living in Camden and starting a family. Then he saw the frame of a house in Laurel Springs where construction had stopped.

That was the house he could afford. So he bought the frame and block foundation, and built the home where he lived with his wife, Ruth, and raised his three daughters for about 30 years.

On Thursday, May 4, Mr. Snyder, 95, of Deptford, died at Inspira Hospital, Woodbury, after experiencing complications from a fall.

Born in Lansdale, Mr. Snyder attended classes at Pennsylvania State University before going into the Army. He served during World War II from 1942 through 1946, transporting prisoners in the United States as a sergeant for the military police, said his youngest daughter, Carol.

Among his honors, Mr. Snyder received a Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, American Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.

Mr. Snyder met his wife at a military dance in Pittsburgh. While he was still in the service, the couple lived briefly in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, before coming to New Jersey.

Snyder described her father as someone who "loved life" and could build or fix anything, including cars. At his home in Laurel Springs, he worked quickly to lay a concrete floor as the cement was poured through a window, his daughter said.

They later had a vacation house in Virginia where the family enjoyed boating.

"Dad would take us fishing," his daughter said. "We always enjoyed it until my dad made us bait our own hooks." Other times, he would take his girls to a local ski attraction in Pine Hill, where he told them to learn by watching others, as he had done.

While in Laurel Springs, Mr. Snyder served two terms on the council from 1968 to 1974, and volunteered for the fire department for 25 years. For 36 years, he worked for Western Electric as an installer and later in an administrative position. He was a union representative for Communications Workers Local 1090.

During their 72 years of marriage, the couple traveled the world, seeing much of Europe, and also visited Thailand, Central America, and Japan. After Mr. Snyder recovered from heart-valve replacement surgery, the couple recently went to Iceland. In earlier years, they enjoyed family vacations to Maine and other parts of the country.

In the United States, they visited every state at least twice except Hawaii, although Mr. Snyder had hoped to go back.

After retirement, Mr. Snyder and his wife moved to Clementon before going to Deptford, where they remained for another 30 years. Mr. Snyder and his wife also spent winters in Fort Myers, Fla.

Among his hobbies, Mr. Snyder enjoyed gardening.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Snyder is survived by daughters Eileen Andrews and Bobbie Schilling, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private.

Condolences may be posted to www.buddfuneralhome.com,or mailed to Budd Funeral Home, 522 Salem Ave., Woodbury, N.J. 08096.