I got a phone call from Byron yesterday. It was news I was totally unprepared for. Rusty Snyder suffered a fatal heart attack yesterday. Rusty was a classmate in our class of ‘78 at Roanoke Valley Christian School, we were the first graduating class in RVCS history. There were only 16 of us in that class, and as a result, we were all close, to some degree or another.
This news about Rusty really knocked me back. I’ve tried a couple of times to write something here but I just couldn’t. And then I saw that Byron had written a moving remembrance on his site. I’d really like you to read that post. I was finally able to write something in the comments there and I’m going to copy it here.
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I’ve always told people that our senior class at RVCS, due to it’s size (16) and being the first graduating class, was (and is) a family. Sure, it may have been a bit dysfunctional (with some of us more on the “dys” side than most) but it was still ‘family’.
But Rusty didn’t care how far to the ‘dys’ side I wandered, he always accepted me just the way I was. And he was that way with everyone. He didn’t see the ’stuff’ ABOUT a person,he saw the person.
I’ll definitely never forget the nights spent sitting around in my basement with a bunch of us playing Strat-o-matic Baseball. Great times, and Rusty was always in the middle of it.
…If we were to make a list of who from our class was going to be the first to go, well, my name has been at the top of that last since our senior year. (Different reasons over the years, but still at the top) But Rusty’s name was never even near the top. It just shouldn’t have been Rusty.
I hate that I’m not going to be able to make it down to Roanoke for the funeral. Family should be together at a time like this to grieve, comfort, and celebrate a life well-lived, always to the fullest, and always, at all times, lived to serve and honor our Lord Jesus.
I’m also proud to have had the privilege to call Rusty Snyder “FRIEND”.
Posted on February 17th, 2008 by Paul
Filed under: Redneck Musings
Man, I’m so sorry for your loss. Sounds like not only have you lost a friend and a brother, but we all have. May God grant you the peace and comfort you need.
Rusty was my coach and the best coach ever. I know how your class becomes family, having graduated from RVCS. I just know that Rusty will be missed but he’ s in a better place.
Paul,
I don’t think we had the chance to spend much time together. But I wanted to stop in and let you know how much I appreciate your words here, and more importantly, your friendship to Rusty. I got to be his kid brother for 42 years. So I sort of get what you’re saying. Thanks again.
Mike
Mike,
Thanks for stopping by here. It truly was a privilege to call your brother my friend,
And from reading Byron’s accounts of everything that happened, I can’t help but think that if Rusty could somehow comment on everything, he’d be astounded by all the outpouring of love because to him his life of accepting and caring and loving people was just ‘normal.’ He honestly didn’t know any other way. And he certainly didn’t do it for any sort of recognition. He was always just Rusty, being Rusty…
God’s Grace, Peace, and Love to you and your family
Paul,
Rusty was truly a great example to young people. I knew him as a teenager and coached him and watched him graduate from R VCS. The church was packed the day of his funeral which was a great testimony to his life. It was such a blessing to see so many of his friends and classmates the day of his funeral. Everyone who reads this should pray for his family because the void he leaves not only affects them but many who knew him and were touched by his life. He is now with the Lord but his life and testimony will live forever.
May God Bless.