Eugene Burton Snell

Born: 11/4/1928 Died: 5/8/2012 Mr. Eugene Burton Snell, known fondly as “Gene,” age 83, of Newark, DE, passed away on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. Born in Wyandotte, MI, on November 4, 1928, Gene was the son of the late E. Burton Snell and Dora Gibbons Snell. Gene graduated from the University of Michigan’s Chemical Engineering program and was a member of Tau Beta Phi. Following graduation he was employed by DuPont from 1951 to 1985. His responsibilities at DuPont included process design of major facilities, as well as design management of international projects covering Europe, Mexico, the Middle East and Far East areas. He retired as the Director of Engineering Services. Licensed as a Delaware Professional Engineer in 1964, Gene began his service to the Delaware Association of Professional Engineers in 1989 serving in many roles, including president of the organization from 1992 to 1994. In 1999, his many contributions to the profession were recognized by his peers and he was chosen Delaware’s Engineer of the Year. The following year he was recognized by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying with the award for Distinguished Service for his many contributions serving on finance and exam committees. Gene promoted professional licensure to students at the University of Delaware for many years. Gene was elected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Community service was also important to Gene who devoted many hours with the New Century Club and the Blood Bank. He co-founded Development Impact Study Coalition (DISC), an area-wide civic group to address development issues in greater Newark. An active member of the Civic League for New Castle County, he served as a board member and for an unprecedented three consecutive years as president from 1988 to 1991. Gene always gave freely of his time and experience to make his community a better place in which to live and a better place for engineers to practice their profession. He is survived by his beloved wife, Louise Rainey Snell; children, Dr. Laura Cochran of Chesapeake City, MD, E. Bryan Snell of Newark, William Gravlee of Elkton, MD, Andrew Snell of San Antonio, TX, and Chuck Snell of Chapel Hill, NC; sister, Lorene Myers of Riverview, MI; 10 grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, David Snell. A funeral service will be held at 10 am on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, where visitation will begin at 9 am. Interment will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Lancaster Ave. and DuPont Rd., Wilmington. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Emmaus House, c/o Homeward Bound, Inc., P.O. Box 9740, Newark, DE 19714.