John Melvin Snook
John Melvin Snook, 81, of Bartlesville, Okla., died Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, at The Journey Home Hospice in Bartlesville following a strong fight against renal failure and other ailments. His family was at his side where they had been during the last several weeks of his earthly walk.
John was born March 27, 1934 at Christ’s Hospital in Topeka, Kan. to Edward and Elizabeth Snook. His father was a Methodist pastor and times were never easy in their small pastorates. In time, John was joined by his brother, Ray, followed by two sisters, Miriam and Priscilla. Their father then moved to the Pilgrim Holiness Church and pastorates followed in Kansas, Colorado and finally Oklahoma.
John grew into a strong young man, graduating from Grand Junction High School in Colorado in 1952. He received a scholarship offer from the University of Kansas in football, but due to a back injury suffered in pre-season practice he entered Colorado Springs Bible College that year instead.
Faced with a possible induction through the military draft, John applied and was accepted into the Air Force Program in 1953 and was stationed in Harlingen, Texas at that time. He graduated from flight school in 1955 and soon became a flight instructor, coach and member of the first graduating class at the new Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. He piloted B-52s and attained the rank of colonel before his retirement from the Air Force Reserve.
Somehow during those busy days he found time to meet and date Marian Cunningham, and they were married March 25, 1955 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Following their marriage, John soon became a minister at Pleasantview Holiness Church near Alva, Okla. True to form, John did several things at once as he was also the principal at Carmen-Dacoma High School as well as an English professor at Northwestern State University in Alva. During his career in education he earned a BA in English Education, an MA in Education and eventually a Doctorate in Literary Literature degree from Houghton College.
The family grew during their time in Pleasantville, with the birth of Carmen, Carleen, Cherie and finally John Melvin II completing the family over time. The family ministered to many through the years of their father’s ministry and made friends all over the country during this time. John was sought after as a speaker to many youth and convention groups, as well as to local high school groups and classes where he touched many lives.
In 1973 the family moved to Bartlesville when John was hired by Bartlesville Wesleyan College, where he was named president in 1974. He was president of the college for several years before moving to Manhattan, Kan., where he pastored Westview Community Church. He also had pastorates in Upland, Calif. at the Upland Brethren in Christ Church, and then many good years at the United Methodist Church in Ellsworth, Kan. prior to his retirement in 2001.
Upon his retirement, John and Marian returned to Bartlesville, where John became involved with Grace Community Church and was involved in several ministries at Grace. He found hospice ministry to be a particular passion and was responsible for community education and was the in-service director for both Cornerstone and Comforting Hands Hospice in Bartlesville. He was involved in the beginning of The Journey Home Hospice, where he spent his final days before he went to be with Jesus.
John was a strong figure and example in many lives and a loyal friend to hundreds of people in the world of both church and education. His sense of mission was formed in the Air Force and he was not easily dissuaded from reaching goals that he set for himself and for others. Many of you reading this will well remember his “Three D’s Sermon” that spelled out his philosophy of life. He will be missed by his family and all who knew him, and remains a giant of a man in the way he lived his life.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ray Snook, who passed away in 1998 in Fredonia, Kan.
John is survived by his wife Marian, of the home, as well as by his four children and their families. They are Carmen Hall and husband, Percy, of Upland, Calif. and their two children, John and Megan; Carleen Wade and husband, Brad, of Pretty Prairie, Kan. and daughters Tara and Kary; Cherie Vanderploeg and husband, Jim, of Austin, Texas and their children Dori and Seth; and John II and wife, Brenda, of Fort Worth, Texas and daughters Lauren and Molly and son John III. J
John is also survived by sisters Miriam Hawkins and husband, Eldon, and Priscilla Hundley and husband, Richard.
Grandchildren and spouses are John and Shawnea Attwood, Megan and David Jenkins, Tara Wade and Marcus Myers, Kary Wade, Makiah Wade, Jessie and Dori Mahugi, Seth and Jackie Vanderploeg, Cody and Lauren McCurry, John Snook III and Molly Snook. Great-grandchildren are Logan and Abby Attwood, Liam Jenkins, Tayren and Mara Wade, Marcus and Miles Myers, Brenleigh and Malchia Mahugi, Jillian Manriquez, and more to come.
Celebration of Life memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, at Gracy Community Church in Bartlesville, with Dr. Rod MacIlvaine, pastor of the Grace Community Church, officiating.
Cremation arrangements and services are under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home and Crematory, Bartlesville.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Snook’s memory to The Journey Home 3406 S.E. Kentucky Ave. Bartlesville, Okla. 74006, or the Comforting Hands Hospice 2450 S.E. Washington Blvd. Bartlesville, Okla. 74006.
Friends who wish may sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www.stumpff.org.
