Dwight "Tinker" Snider

Dwight Eugene Snider August 25, 1932 to September 20, 2021

Mr. Dwight Eugene “Tinker” Snider of Denton passed away on Monday, September 20th at the Hinkle Hospice House.  Son of the late Walter Thomas Snider and Mary Trotter Snider, he was one of twelve children. Born and raised in the Farmer area, he grew up during the Great Depression & WWII. Times were hard and he had to learn to work at a very early age. At just 5 years old he was assisting his father in the sawmill business. By the sixth grade, he had earned his first official $5 paycheck for three weeks “snaking” logs. He remembered promptly spending it on a desperately needed pair of shoes, two pair of overalls, and payment for his book fee at Farmer School. Sadly, he had to quit school at the end of the seventh grade to work full-time at the sawmill.

After his father’s early death, he worked to help support his mother and siblings. First at Lucas Furniture in Asheboro for the winter months, then returning to sawmilling by the spring. He also was employed by Newton Welding and Engineering as a welder, fabricator, steel rigger and crane operator.  In 1949, soon after accepting Christ as his Savior at Gravel Hill Baptist Church, he was part of a group of men sent to help construct and become charter members of Farmer Missionary Baptist Church. He was drafted into the Army in 1953 and was very proud to have served during the era of the Korean Conflict with the 246th Field Artillery Missile Battalion stationed at Fort Bliss, TX.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army in 1955, he met and married Aveline Richardson of Seagrove, NC. They made a home in Seagrove living close to her parents and joined Maple Springs Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school and served on several committees. In late 1964, while working in Denton, he acquired an old house. With a vision of what it could be, he purchased adjacent land and moved the house to its current location on Bombay Rd. From 1964 to 1974 he worked on remodeling the house, making it into a home for his wife and children. During this time, he worked various maintenance jobs at local factories including Duracell, Dacotah Cotton Mill, and Klopman Mills. He eventually opened the concrete plant, Denton Ready Mix, and continued his other various endeavors under his formal business name Snider Construction & Repair.

In 1979, after closing the concrete plant, he devoted most of his time as a commercial truck driver. For over 30 years, he drove all over the USA.  He worked a few years for US Express and Wrangler, but the majority of his trucking career was under Tinker Transportation as an owner/operator. When he was home, he continued his general construction and repair jobs. His insatiable desire for learning, and regret of never completing his education, was his motivation to go back to school - on May 8, 1989 (with his family cheering him on), he proudly earned his GED.

In the mid-90s he rejoined Farmer Missionary Baptist Church and enjoyed attending regularly until his health declined. As a father he was supportive, encouraging, wise, and always there with a strong arm to support his children. Whether at home or on the road, he was always willing to help anyone who was in need, and always had a story to share with anyone willing to listen! He lived life to the fullest extent, did things his own way, on his own terms, touched many lives with his generosity and willingness to help, and had more adventures than anyone can count. He will be remembered most for his passion for life, his kind heart, giving spirit and tireless work ethic.

He is preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Dalton, John, and Jack Snider; five sisters: Gladys Routh, Dorothy White, Ruth Bradshaw, Colleen Apple and Rachel Adams; and his granddaughter Kiara Waters. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 65 years, Aveline Richardson Snider and five children: Deborah Waters of West Columbia, SC; Tim (Vickie) Snider of Blue Ridge, GA; Tammy (Alden) Numa of Los Angeles, CA; Dana (Tommy) Evans of Thomasville, NC; and Darren (Christine) Snider of Colorado Springs, CO.; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, brothers Clyatt Snider of Lexington, NC; Dewey Snider of Denton, NC, and sister Nancy Snider of Waynesboro, VA. He leaves behind many extended family and special friends who will miss him dearly.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to all that visited and supported him in various ways over the last several years, especially his caregivers. Your extraordinary care has been a tremendous blessing!

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday September 25th at Tom’s Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery with Pastors Daniel Delaney & Jonathan Burris officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the cemetery.

Mr. Snider will lie in repose from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm on Saturday for the public to view at Briggs Funeral Home in Denton..

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Farmer Missionary Baptist Church 4566 Dunbar Bridge Rd. Asheboro, NC 27205 or Tom’s Creek Ground Fund Attn Kent Snider 712 Sexton Road Denton NC 27239.

Online condolences can be made to the family at www.briggsfuneralhome.com