Obituaries : * Phyllis Baron Snyder; From Pioneering Family

Phyllis Baron Snyder, a lifelong Ventura County resident, died of cancer Saturday at her Santa Paula home. She was 70.

Snyder, who was born on Oct. 27, 1925, in Oxnard, was in the third generation of Ventura County’s pioneering Milligan family. Her ancestors came from New York to farm in this area in the 1800s.

As a child, Snyder helped her mother, Hazel Baron, farm land near Camarillo, and she played first string violin at Oxnard Union High School.

She had been the first female parts manager for the Case Tractor Co., a job she held for four years.

Snyder was active in the Cub Scouts, Campfire Girls, Children’s Home Society and Assistance League of Ventura County. She was also a foster parent and an avid bridge player.

“If she saw anybody who needed anything, she took care of it,” said her daughter Linda Thaxton Fleming. “She was real altruistic. She was absolutely devoted to humanity. She loved life and was devoted to the downtrodden. She took Christmas toys to disadvantaged children and volunteered to work with developmentally disabled children. She always had a soft spot for children. “

She is survived by her husband, Donald E. Snyder; her daughters, Linda Thaxton Fleming of Bakersfield and Mary Thaxton Carlisle of Ventura; her sons, Daniel W. Thaxton Jr. and Ted L. Thaxton, both of Camarillo; her stepdaughter, Cynthia Kamiski of Silver Creek, N.Y.; her stepson, Lt. Col. Michael Snyder of Madrid; and 12 grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. today at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura. The Rev. Al Gorseline of St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Oxnard will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.