Gene Snowden

Gene Snowden, 91, of Huntington, IN, passed away on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN.

Gene was born on April 7, 1928, in Huntington, IN, to Benjamin and Anna (Orr) Snowden.  He married Carol Replogle on August 26, 1949, and they would have celebrated 70 years of marriage this summer.   

Gene was a 1946 graduate of Huntington High School and attended Olivet Nazarene University.   He was a lifelong public servant both in Huntington County and in the State of Indiana. At 87 years old Snowden continued to work for Ness Bros. Realty, and was an avid fund-raiser for several area charities.  Gene was a lifelong member of the Huntington First Church of the Nazarene in Huntington and played in the Nazarene band from 1942 until it ceased in 2011, and was also a past board member of the church.

Snowden worked 42 years in insurance and 16 years in real estate.  He was elected to Huntington County Council in 1960.  In 1962-1964 he was a member of the Indiana House of Representative. He then served the Indiana Senate for 20 years, 1964-1983.  In early 2015, the state Republican Party named Snowden the Outstanding Republican in Huntington County. Gov. Bob Orr appointed him head of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, from 1983-1988.  He was Huntington County Auditor from 1988 to 1992, then Huntington’s Mayor from 1992-1996.

Olivet Nazarene University awarded Snowden the Honorary Doctor of Law Degree in 1989. Gene promoted the building of Lake Sno-Tip, named in part for him, and served on the board at Huntington University.  Gene was the Huntington County Torch bearer for the Indiana Bicentennial in 2016.

Snowden served as Chief of the Flint Springs Tribe in 2003 and was involved with the Police Athletic League, Salvation Army, Huntington County Historical Society, the Boy Scouts, Gideons International, Huntington County Leadership, Boys & Girls Club, Historic Forks of the Wabash, Pathfinder Services, Bippus Lions Club, United Way, Huntington County Chamber of Commerce and Christian Literature for Africa. He also founded the Huntington Optimist Club in 1960 and was its first President. Indiana 224 between Huntington and Interstate 69 is known as the “Gene Snowden Highway”.

Along with his wife, Carol, he is survived by his four daughters, Connie(Jan) Reahm, Muskegon, MI, Beverly (David) Mimms, Pasadena, CA, Barbara Snowden, Bradley, IL, Jodi Snowden, Huntington, IN; two brothers, Ned (Mary) Snowden, Muncie, IN, Jerry (Sharon) Snowden, Elkhart, IN; 6 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, his twin, Jack Snowden, Charles Snowden; and one sister, Charlotte Singer.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, June 17, 2019, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene, 1555 Flaxmill Road, Huntington, IN, 46750.

Additional calling hours will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at First Church of the Nazarene, 1555 Flaxmill Road, Huntington, IN, 46750.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Huntington First Church of the Nazarene or the Boys and Girls Club of Huntington in care of McElhaney-Hart Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, IN, 46750.

A private burial will be at a later date.

McElhaney- Hart Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson St., Huntington, IN, is in charge of local arrangements. 

Online condolences to www.mcelhaneyhartfuneralhome.com

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