Kenneth "Duke" Snyder, of Hutchinson, died on Thursday, July 19, 2012. He was born Sept. 3, 1928, in Manchester, (Grant County), Okla., and lived in the Anthony-Waldron area in Harper County, Kan., where he worked on the family farm with three brothers and three sisters.

He attended Spring Township schools and graduated from Anthony High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force based in Hawaii during the Korean conflict as an aircraft mechanic, flight engineer, and gunner. He was honorably discharged in 1953 at the rank of staff sergeant.

On April 2, 1953, he married Marlene Boshears and together they had three children. She died March 7, 1994. He worked for two years for Otis Elevator Company and retired from Eaton Corporation, Hutchinson, in 1991 after 38 years. On Dec. 29, 1994, he married Mary Casad. She died Dec. 21, 1996. He is survived by a brother, Floyd Snyder of Anthony; and a sister, Wilma Starkey of Wichita. Two brothers and two sisters precede him in death. His children are Brad and Jolene Snyder of Silver Lake, Kan., Karen Snyder of South Hutchinson, Bret Snyder of Hutchinson, Shirley Faulkner of Hutchinson, and Stan Casad of Ukraine. He has six grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Funeral service is 10 a.m. Monday, July 23, 2012, at Elliott Chapel, with Pastor Tyler Vance presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday with family to receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary.

The family requests no flowers. Instead, memorials may be made to Interfaith Housing Services, 1st Baptist Church of Hutchinson-Missions Fund, Cru (formerly known as Campus Crusade For Christ International)for more information you can go to http://reachingleaders.blogspot.com/, an organization that Kenny's grandchildren, Geoff and Michelle Freeman are involved in, or Love Packs(an organization founded by Kenny's grandchildren Matt and Trish Snyder, to provide food care packages for school age children in need). Memorials can be sent in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.