News at ABWE
Reginald Snell with the Lord
August 12, 2005
Reginald Snell was born in Willowdale, Ontario, on January 21, 1923. He was the only son of Charles and Florence Snell. Reg had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home with godly parents and four sisters.
In 1942, during World War II, Reg enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served as a tail gunner with an R.A.F. squadron. On his twenty-first bombing mission, Reg’s plane was shot down over Germany. Reg was captured and served as a prisoner of war for his country, Canada. In his journal he wrote, “My service with the R.C.A.F. resulted in complete dedication of my life to God to be a preacher of the saving gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ.”
Following the war, Reg started his seminary training at Toronto Baptist Seminary. He completed his Bachelor of Theology at Central Baptist Seminary in 1949. During his seminary days Reg met Helen Lorraine Purcell and they were married at Jarvis Street Baptist Church in Toronto on May 8, 1948. Following seminary, Reg and Helen served for twenty-one years in New Brunswick. Their first pastorate was on Campobello Island and then in Sillikers. During those years, they had their first child, Robert Lloyd Snell. Their final fourteen Maritime years were spent at Parkside Baptist Church, Moncton. Cheryl Ann Snell was born there and that completed their family of four.
In January of 1970, the Snell family moved to Guelph, Ontario. Pastor and Mrs. Snell served at Calvary Baptist Church for ten years. The Lord took Pastor Snell in a new direction in 1980 when he accepted the responsibility of directing the Canadian office for the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. During the twelve years in this ministry, Reg and Helen had the privilege to minister to countless missionaries around the world and many others were led into full-time Christian service because of their influence on their lives. Dr. Wendell Kempton, dear friend and former president of ABWE, honoured Reg with the title “Canadian Director Emeritus” on his retirement in 1992. In his retirement, Reg had the honour to serve as interim pastor to the people at Bethel Baptist in Fergus.
Reg went to be with the Lord Friday morning, August 12, 2005, after a painful battle with cancer. Reg is survived by his wife, Helen, son Robert (wife Joanne), daughter Cheryl Baber (husband Mark), five granddaughters: Lindsay, Jenny, Christie, Heidi, and Kaitlyn, and one great-grandson.
Visitation is scheduled for Monday, August 15, from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at:
Edward R. Good Funeral Home
171 King Street
Waterloo, ON
Canada
(519) 745-8445
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, August 16, 2005, at First Baptist Church of Waterloo. Reg’s son is the Pastor of First Baptist Church.
First Baptist Church
306 Erb Street West
Waterloo, ON
Canada
(519) 886-6530