Graydon F. Snyder, 86, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2016, at Timbercrest in North Manchester, IN. Born in Peru, Indiana on April 30, 1930, to Clayton and Irene Fisher Snyder, Graydon grew up in Huntington, WV. An academic and ordained minister, he earned a MDiv degree from Bethany Theological Seminary in 1955 and a PhT from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1961, receiving a Fulbright scholarship to Norway. As Dean and Weiand Professor of New Testament Studies, Graydon taught from 1959-87 at Bethany Theological Seminary, the Church of the Brethren graduate school of theology. From 1987 until his retirement in 1994, Graydon served as Dean at Chicago Theological Seminary. He was a founding member of the Brethren Health and Welfare Association and a member of the Governing Council of Bethany Hospital, Chicago. Graydon and his wife Lois Horning Snyder were active members of the Chicago First Church of the Brethren. Author of 13 books and numerous articles, Graydon wrote extensively on early Christian art. His book, “Ante Pacem: Archeological Evidence of Church Life Before Constantine,” documented his research in Europe. Graydon is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lois, two sons, Dr. Jonathan (Cynthia Hall) E. Snyder (Park City, UT) and Dr. Stephen (Angela Hamilton) D. Snyder (St. Louis, MO), a daughter, Dr. Anna (Brian Rice) C. Snyder (Winnipeg, Canada), and three grandsons, Nathan and Michael Hall-Snyder (Palo Alto, CA) and Ulysses A. Snyder (St. Louis, MO). Preceded in death by his brother, Darrell Snyder. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the North Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1306 N. Beckley Street, North Manchester, IN at 2:00pm on Sunday, June 5, 2016, with fellowship following. Rev. Kurt Borgmann will preside. Burial in Oakridge-Glen Oak Cemetery, Hillside, IL. Memorial gifts to the Graydon F. Snyder Scholarship Fund at Bethany Theological Seminary, 615 National Road, West Richmond, IN, 47374. To send a private condolence to the Snyder family, use the condolence link on the McKee Mortuary homepage.