Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9412210003
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: AIMEE RATLIFF SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES &WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Snider was one of the first two women to join the Hollins Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, and the crew has been part of the family since. Her late husband, her son, and now her granddaughter, all have been involved in fire and rescue work and with the Hollins crew.
About a year ago, illness forced Snider to stop running rescue calls, but she continues to serve as crew chaplain. She attended monthly meetings through August when she was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. She's been chaplain since 1985.
When Snider, now 64, joined the Roanoke County Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad No.5 at Hollins in the early 1970s, fire and rescue work was not considered suitable for a woman. Her husband, Fred, however, persuaded her and a friend to apply in 1974.
Fred Snider had been a volunteer fireman in Giles County in the 1950s and became involved with the Roanoke County department in 1970. Their son, Danny Snider, joined in 1971.
"We really doubted that we would be accepted, because there were no other women at that time in the county," said Snider, referring to herself and Ellen Cook, who no longer is active.
Snider went on to get training as an emergency medical technician and in shock trauma. She and her husband always worked the same nights.
"My biggest fear was that I would arrive on the scene of an accident and that it would be one of my own children," said Snider, who has two other children besides Danny. "The afterthoughts of what had happened were the worst, but overall, it was a very exciting and impressing experience, of being knowledgeable to know what to do."
Some nights were spent in constant pursuit of the next emergency and would end in time for her husband to return to his daytime job as an electrician at Norfolk and Western Railway.
"We did not consider this working two jobs. We volunteered our time with the fire and rescue, but many people didn't realize that we didn't get paid for our time," said Snider, who retired from the alterations department of J.C. Penney in March.
Snider, who became a life member of the crew in 1987, was named crew member of the year in 1991.
"Annabelle was always in a position to be a mediating force. She has been a compassionate authority figure to the younger members, and she has certainly earned that respect through the years. She is a marvelous example of loving people in the community, and it all revolves around her sense of being a responsible citizen," said the Rev. Willis Buchanan, who has been with the fire and rescue for 28 years and is its vice president.
When Snider's husband died in 1989, she found she needed the responsibility that the rescue squad provided more than ever.
"I wanted to stay in more because of the opportunity it gave me to get out and be with other people at the time I needed it most. It helped me to stay busy and feel like I was useful to myself and my community as a whole."
It's been almost a year since Snider stopped running calls, but "I still have a pager, and I still get the urge every once and a while when I hear the calls go out."
"From the time I got my training until the time I finally decided I just had to give it up, I really enjoyed every bit of it," Snider said.
"When I went in, I kind of had my doubts. But it was a wonderful experience in every way. I saw a lot of people and a lot of different personalities. I saw things I never thought I'd be involved in. I didn't know how much I cared for people until I got into [fire and rescue work]," said Snider.
Attending monthly business meetings is her only duty for the crew now, but she still keeps up with the goings-on. Her son Danny is a lieutenant, and his daughter, Gail, became a probationary member in August.
"I have encouraged Gail, and so has her father, Danny. I think it's great she has made up her mind that it's what she wants to do."
Gail, who wants to go into the medical field, looks up to her grandmother, who she says has been inspirational and always there to help with her problems. Joining the fire and rescue was not a necessity, but something that is a part of her because she has been around it all her life, Gail said.
by CNB