Charles E. “Ched” Snow was born on April 17, 1936 to Edward G. and Evelyn Snow. He grew
up in Englewood with his younger sister Judy (Powell) and attended Englewood public
schools. He loved to play baseball and was a pitcher for many years. He was active in the
Boy Scouts, where he worked up to the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. During his time as a
Scout he went on many adventures. In an article that he wrote for a local newspaper, he
describes a trip they took traveling from Yellowstone through to the Grand Tetons to Bear
Lake, Idaho and lastly Salt Lake City, as “very enjoyable” for the whole troop.
He graduated from Englewood High School and later attended the University of Colorado in
Boulder where he met his first wife, Martha (Farnsworth). They married and Ched worked in his
father’s furniture business. He and Martha welcomed their first daughter, Karen Lee. Ched left the furniture business and went to work for Jack Lind at Seaboard Financial Corporation. Jack and his wife Suzie became life long friends. He began his banking career with Arapahoe County Bank of Littleton. Two more daughters arrived, Beverly Lynn and Rebecca Louise.
Tragically, Karen died at the age of two. He, his wife and two daughters moved to San
Antonio, TX closer to Martha's mother, Mable "Mo" Farnsworth. There he joined the Pan American National Bank of San Antonio. They later moved to Santa Fe and Albuquerque, living there until Martha's untimely death at age 36 due to breast cancer. Ched and his two daughters returned to Colorado to live and work there.
Back in Denver, his banking career began to take off. He was employed by the First
National Bank of Denver and was promoted to Vice President, overseeing the metropolitan
division of correspondent banking. He joined an investment group to acquire the Arvada
State Bank and took on the role of bank president. He was later approached by an
investment group to acquire Cherry Creek National Bank, South Denver National Bank and
a charter to operate the First National Bank of Westminster. He was a member of the
Colorado Bankers Association, serving on several committees. During this time he met and
married Wendy (Holmes) and had two more children, Johanna Lee and Charles Edward II.
After he left banking, Ched got into commercial real estate, working for Moore Commercial
Realty with his childhood best friend, Robert Leino and then Mountain Pacific Mortgage
where he worked in commercial mortgage lending.
He was active in the community for many nonprofits and charitable organizations. He
served the Boy Scouts of America as the chairman of the Gateway District and as an
advisory director for the Denver Area Council. He was the chairman of the Salvation Army’s Red
Shield Division and a devoted member of Rockland Church, serving on several
committees. He would always contribute to numerous organizations like Foothills Animal
Shelter, Special Olympics and Phamly Theater Group. One of his favorite organizations to contribute to was
Compassion International where he sponsored two “daughters” in the Philippines. He wrote to them often and looked forward to getting letters and updates. He was also a big
supporter of Mount Evans Home Health & Hospice, not just contributing money, but he would happily work
the water table of their annual Freedom Run and would donate his famous smoked turkeys
to their silent auctions.
Ched loved to grill and perfected his chicken over the years for his friends and family.
Nothing would make him happier than to have everyone gathered around an old white
picnic table that his dad built. You had to come hungry and be prepared to hear about
Olathe corn or the latest bbq sauce, his other culinary passions. He was an avid sports fan
and watched the Rockies, CU Buffs and Bronco games every week. He loved all his
grandchildren and great-grandchildren dearly and his favorite Sundays were spent with
them cheering on “the donkeys”. After each nail biter win, he would proudly proclaim,
“never a doubt!”
Never a doubt that Ched will be missed dearly by those who knew him. He made a lasting
impression with his humor and always had a few jokes in his back pocket. Please join us in
celebrating his life at 11:00 am, on Saturday, January 21 at Rockland Community Church (17
S Mt Vernon Country Club Rd, Golden, CO 80401). Reception details to follow.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy of 45 years, daughters Beverly (Mike Peterson), Rebecca
(Vance Wagner), Johanna, and son Charles Edward II. Five grandchildren; Ashley (Sean),
Vance (Kelly), Bradley (Anna), Shannon and Trevor (Rhema), and eight great-grandchildren
Bergen, Soren, Benjamin, Samuel, Mac, Scarlett, Sterling and Shepherd. He was preceded
in death by Martha (Farnsworth) and Karen Lee.
Donations can be made to Mountain Vista Senior Communities and Mount Evans Home Health & Hospice to honor Ched's life and to support the work of these wonderful non-profit organizations. Mountain Vista Senior Communities, 4800 Tabor St, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Mount Evans Home health & Hospice, 3081 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen, CO 80439
https://mountainvista.networkforgood.com/projects/18595-mountain-vista-general-community-donations
http://mountevans.org/Donate
Ched’s family and friends will gather to celebrate his life at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 21st, at Rockland Community Church (17 S. Mount Vernon Country Club Road, Golden, CO 80401) The service will be followed by a reception at the church.