OBITUARIES, Dec. 30, 2005

Raymond L. Sohl, Nellie L. Dey, Lt. Christopher H. Snyder, Melville R. Smith

Raymond L. Sohl
Retired Plainsboro postmaster
   
PLAINSBORO — Raymond L. Sohl died Monday at the Pavilions at Forrestal. He was 84.
   Born in Princeton, he was a lifelong Plainsboro resident.
   Mr. Sohl retired from the Plainsboro Post Office as postmaster in 1972 after 30 years of service.
   He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Plainsboro.
   He was a very active member of the Plainsboro Historical Society. A member of the Plainsboro Lions Club for 30 years, he formerly held numerous positions in the organization.
   Son of the late Harry L. and Florence Hellmann Sohl, brother of the late Clifford, Lester and Walter Sohl, he is survived by nieces Connie Sohl-Hopkins of Plainsboro, Marlee Maxwell of Cranbury and Susan Seip of Hightstown; and several grand-nieces and nephews.
   The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church of Plainsboro, 500 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro.
   Interment will follow in Brainerd Cemetery, Cranbury.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Plainsboro, 500 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro, NJ 08536.
Nellie L. Dey
Longtime Rocky Hill resident
   
ROCKY HILL — Nellie Lopatka Dey died Monday at University Medical Center at Princeton. She was 86.
   Born in Jerome, Pa., she grew up in New Market, later named Piscataway, received her high school diploma in New York City, and lived in Rocky Hill for the last 65 years.
   Mrs. Dey worked for Educational Testing Service as a secretary and was head of the Circular Mail Section. She retired in 1979 after 27 years of service.
   For many years, she was a volunteer and secretary for the Rocky Hill First Aid and Rescue Squad, and a past member of the Ladies Auxiliary for the Rocky Hill Fire Company.
   She was a communicant of the Catholic Community of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Montgomery.
   Daughter of the late John and Helen Lopatka, wife of the late George "Buster" Dey, who died in 1988, sister of the late Marya DeBonis, Ella Franchino, Charles Lopatka and John Lopatka Jr., she is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Georgiana Mazzella of Rocky Hill, Gloria and Thaddeus Tylutki of Manalapan and Patricia and John Rieszer of Princeton; sisters Genevieve Tindall of Greenbrook, Lydia Stutski of Edison and Stella Snyder of Fiddletown, Calif.; brother Leo Lopatka of Lady Lake, Fla.; and grandchildren Kim Ann Mazzella, Vincent Mazzella, John N. Rieszer, Saundra Rieszer-Brogan, Dr. Marcus Tylutki, and Christopher Tylutki; great-grandchildren Anastasia and Steven Marusky; and many nieces and nephews.
   The funeral is scheduled for 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. today at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, 376 Burnt Hill Road, Montgomery, followed at 10 a.m. by a Mass of Christian Burial in the church.
   Burial will follow in Rocky Hill Cemetery.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Rocky Hill First Aid and Rescue Squad, PO Box 175, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553 or the charity of the donor’s choice.
   Arrangements are by Kimble Funeral Home, Princeton.
Lt. Christopher H. Snyder
Navy helicopter pilot
   
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Lt. Christopher H. Snyder died Dec. 13 in a helicopter crash off the coast of Colombia carrying out an anti-drug operation with the Navy. He was 28.
   Born in Hartford, Conn., he was a 1995 graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School.
   In 2000, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, 60 years after his late grandfather, Joseph Snyder. He received his wings as a helicopter pilot in Pensacola, Fla.
   Son of the late Hugh "Frank" Snyder, he is survived by his mother, Carol Snyder, of Mt. Holly; sister Aliza Snyder of Davie, Fla., and close friend Sara Carter of Jacksonville, Fla.
   A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton.
   A luncheon at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Route 1 in West Windsor will immediate follow the service.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lt. Christopher H. Snyder Scholarship Fund at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, c/o Robyn Neiderer, 1609 Countryside Lane, Jeffersonville, PA 19403.
Melville R. Smith
Longtime Montgomery resident
   
MONTGOMERY — Melville Robinson Smith died Wednesday at home. He was 93.
   Born on Long Island, N.Y., he was a resident of Montgomery since 1914.
   He was a farmer and a mechanic for Van Zandt farm equipment dealership in Blawenburg and also worked at Princeton Nurseries as a mechanic.
   He was very active in Griggstown Reformed Church, serving as a deacon, elder and sexton.
   He was an Army veteran of World War II.
   He enjoyed his farm, gardening and his many cats.
   Son of the late George A. and Daisey Robinson Smith, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Margaret Allen Smith, sisters-in-law and brother-in-law Grace Terhune, Eleanor Hooper, Virginia Allen and Barbara and George Roe; and several nieces and nephews.
   The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Griggstown Reformed Church, 1065 Canal Road, Griggstown.
   Burial will follow in Griggstown Cemetery.
   Calling hours are 3 to 6 p.m. today at M.J. Murphy Funeral Home, 616 Ridge Road at New Road, South Brunswick.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Griggstown Reformed Church, 1065 Canal Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.