Howard L. Snowden — Hansen-Spear

Howard L. Snowden September 10, 1927 – June 29, 2024

Howard was born September 10, 1927, in Vermont, Illinois, the second son of Robert and Lillian Snowden. He married Mary L. Langan in 1952 and his present wife, Ruth Ann, in 1977.

A priority in his life was the love of his family and enjoying their love in return including not only his immediate family, but also his step children, step grandchildren, and step great grandchildren. Most important to him was his faith in Jesus Christ and his church that he seldom missed attending at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church where he was a member and served in various offices including the Board of Elders and in 1982 served a term as President of the congregation’s Church Council. During his term he initiated, with Pastor Otto agreeing, that women of the congregation had the right to vote at the Voter’s Assembly that was affirmed.

Howard attended a one-room school house called Sixteen in Eldorado Township in Illinois. Howard and his older brother, Paul, rode two miles on their one horse bareback to school. At Industry High School he participated in football, basketball, hurdles, and pitched for the baseball team. He was Valedictorian for his class of 1945. That same year he enlisted in the Navy at age 17 near the end of WWII. He served one year as yeoman on a U.S. patrol ship based in San Diego, California. After his discharge he remained in the Naval Reserves and was recalled for duty in the Korean War serving another year in recall station at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Chicago.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Illinois in 1950. After discharge from the Navy, he obtained a Juris Doctor degree in 1955 from the University of Illinois law school. He practiced law in the City of Quincy for 65 years until his retirement in 2020. The firm of Schmiedeskamp and Deege hired him out of law school. Two years later Jim Keefe asked him to be a 50-50 partner in the law firm of Keefe and Snowden, later to be Keefe, Snowden, Gorman & Brennan law firm and in 1983 the firm Snowden & Snowden was formed with his son, James Snowden.

Snowden was active in the Democratic Party. He served as legal advisor to the Illinois Youth Commission, and served as Corporation Counsel under the terms of Mayor Don Nicholson and Mayor Verne Hagstrom. Howard was John F. Kennedy’s escort in Quincy when Kennedy visited during his Presidential campaign. He also served the City of La Grange, Missouri as City Attorney and was President of the Adams County Bar in 1970.

His professional licensing included the U.S District Court of the Southern District of Illinois and the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri. He was also licensed to practice in the Supreme Court for the State of Illinois and the Supreme Court for the State of Missouri. Until his retirement in 2020 Snowden was a member of the Illinois Bar Association since 1955, the Adams County Bar Association since 1955, the Missouri Bar Association since 1977, and the Lewis County Bar Association since 1977. In 1974 he was the Business Law Professor at Quincy College. For several years he represented State Farm Insurance in McDonough County handling court cases for State Farm, defendant.

He was a lifetime Chicago Cubs fan instilled by his grandfather making several trips to Chicago for games. Other trips with his wife, Ruth Ann, covered most countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He and Ruth opened Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Sunday School with song and devotions to our Lord and Savior. Special gratitude to Linda Asher for her daily caregiving along with Hospice.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth Ann, son Sam Snowden of Chicago, IL, step children Dave Pellman (Carol), and Amy (Pellman) Killday (Tom) , step grandchildren: Wade Pellman (Katie), Sam Killday, Jake Killday, great grandchildren: Hayes and Crew Pellman, a brother Donald of Macomb, IL, a sister Mary Anne Bartlett (Dick) of Quincy, a brother Phil (Jeanie ) of Minneapolis, MN, several nieces and nephews, sister-in-laws of deceased brothers respectively: Elizabeth of San Diego, CA, Karen of West Chicago, IL, Patty of Jacksonville, IL, Donna of Vermont, IL.

Preceding him in death were his parents, a son, James H. Snowden, brothers: Lyle, Robert “Bob”, Richard “Dick”, Nelson, Paul (Carol) and sister-in-law Shirley “Flip”, Donald’s wife.

Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 5, 2024 at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

Funeral: 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, with Rev. Martin Eden officiating.

Burial: Greenmount Cemetery, Quincy, IL.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers Howard’s family requests that memorials be made to: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. James Lutheran School in Quincy, IL, or Blessing Foundation for Hospice

www.hansenspear.com

Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.