With heavy hearts, the family of Lyman E. Snurr announces his unexpected death at his Waynesboro home during the night of November 16 – 17, 2025. He was 85. Born in Waynesboro on August 1, 1940, he was the son of Ensor N. Snurr and Evelyn (Wile) Snurr.
Lyman was a member of the 1958 graduating class of the Waynesboro Area Senior High School. He went on to Penn State University – main University Park campus. Enjoying the atmosphere of a college town, Lyman continued to live in State College until he returned to his boyhood home in Waynesboro, 2025.
His stepdaughter Kathleen Dimino commented, “He could extemporize on history, gemology, and chemical engineering. This gent could fix a refrigerator or washing machine, which is the mark of a real man, if you ask me.
In State College, he raked his own leaves, mowed his own lawn, and shoveled his own snow to the end.
He was Penn State proud, rocked a goatee, and stood by suspenders as a fashion statement.
Lyman was a devoted caretaker of his first wife, Kaye, with whom he helped raise his nephew, John Barrett, two Persian cats and a St. Bernard. One Christmas, he penned the story of that dog for my children.
He called his second wife, Sue, my mother, three times a day or more, with the greeting ‘Hello, Sweetie …’”
Lyman cared for his family and friends and was always ready to give a helping hand when needed.
From Penn State, he went to work with Nuclide, creating nuclear power plants, for use across the country, on land and on ships. He later became service manager for Lee Shields Volvo Dealership. He joined Sam Mannino doing repairs for his appliance business, and then continued to form his own, Lion Country Repairs. When his first wife Kaye’s health began to decline, he devoted himself to her care and reduced his work, assuming the title of building manager for the Unity Club, a residence for advanced studies foreign graduate students.
Having an inquiring mind, Lyman had a broad range of interests and hobbies: trains, photography, Corvette cars, NASCAR racing, stamp, coin, and gun collecting, travel in the U.S., history, politics, and seeking explanation for the mysteries of our physical world.
After becoming a widower, Lyman renewed an early love with his high school sweetheart, Sue Davison (Lum), who was also widowed. They had met in 1957, when both were members of the Keystone band, a regional band of all ages. Who would have guessed that they would go from being each other’s prom date, to eventually enjoying the bookends of life together? The two eloped on New Year’s weekend, 2019, and were grateful to share six-plus years of marriage.
Lyman is survived by his second wife, Sue, and stepchildren, Mark Lum, wife Pam and stepson Kenny Miller; Kathleen Dimino, husband Anthony and children Marcello and Ariabella; Holly Lum, and husband Trent Sheteron; Cousin Cheryl Snurr, Cousin Richard Snurr and wife Linda; as well as additional widely scattered cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Gwen Long, Kara Kraus, and Sam Mannino, for their decades of friendship and support.
The family will be holding a private memorial service to inter half of Lyman’s ashes with his first wife, Kaye, and half will remain in the safekeeping of his second wife, Sue.
Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, is handling the arrangements.
