Barbara Snyder Hoskins

Barbara Ann (Snyder) Hoskins, 95, of Harrisburg, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025, at the Homeland Center after a long battle with dementia. Born September 20, 1929, in Palmerton, PA, she was the only child of the late Ralph David Snyder and Anita Williams (Steckel) Snyder.

Barbara was a graduate of the former Indiana State Teacher’s College (now known as Indiana University of PA) with a degree in teaching music. She taught for two years in New Jersey before deciding that she preferred playing instruments and singing choral music to teaching about them.

After spending many years in volunteer activities, including being on the state board for the League of Women Voters, she went to work for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. At the time of her retirement she was a manager with the Department of Labor and Industry.

Barbara was a founding member of the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, where she was an active participant in many activities, including the church choir (Unisingers), Sunday morning pianist, the annual talent show (Kaleidoscope), and the monthly breakfasts held in the South Allison Hill neighborhood (her specialty there was cracking dozens of eggs without getting the shells in the bowl).

Like her late husband Don, she had a great love of the water, whether sailing on the family sailboat Galadriel, or the annual family summer vacations on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. She also shared his love of live theatre, and weekends frequently found them in New York City or Washington D.C. to see a Shakespeare or Broadway (or Broadway bound) production.

In her later years she became a founding member of the River City Singers, a community chorus whose values aligned perfectly with hers, including active support for those who are “othered”, whether by race, disability, religion, gender identity/expression, or sexual orientation.

Her secret passions were watching collegiate women’s basketball (the Universities of Connecticut and Tennessee were her favorites) and Law and Order SVU. Her family will always associate the “dun dun” of the Law and Order theme music with Babs.

In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Donald M. Hoskins, who died December 5, 2018.

Barbara is survived by her daughter, Donna M. Hoskins-Helm (Philip); two sons, Steven R. Hoskins (Susan), Bruce A. Hoskins (Pamela); 6 grandchildren, Alexandra Huebner (Matthew), Nathaniel Poulos (Mary Jo), Eric Neal (Rachel), Red Hoskins (Matt), Daniel Hoskins, Valerie Hoskins; and 8 great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to the organizations that took such good care of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother during her journey with dementia – Ecumenical Retirement Center, Homeland Center, and LifeSong Hospice.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Barbara’s name to the River City Singers, 5901 Fox St., Harrisburg, PA 17112 or to the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, 1280 Clover Lane, Harrisburg, PA 17113.

Condolences may be expressed at www.gettysburgfunerals.com