Donald Ray Snow Jr

June 22, 1960 - November 29, 2022

Donald Ray Snow, Jr. (62) passed away unexpectedly on November 29, 2022, from complications due to influenza.

A cute, redheaded boy, Don was born in Palo Alto, CA on June 22, 1960, to Donald Ray Snow, Sr. and Diane Manwaring. Don spent his school years in Provo, UT. He was on the school debate team, loved to play golf, and excelled in school. Don served an LDS mission from 1979-1981 to the Chile Viña del Mar Mission, where he served with Kevin Westover, his future brother-in-law.

Don met his wife, LeAnn Magnusson, while they were both tutoring in the math lab at Brigham Young University. A brilliant mind, he studied mechanical engineering and mathematics. After graduating in 1985, he began his career working for Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) in Long Beach, CA. In 1993, Don and LeAnn moved their family to South Carolina for Don to work on the Charleston air force base, consulting on maintaining the C-17 military transport aircraft. In 1999, they returned to southern California, where Don worked on the development of an inert gas-generating system for the C-17 that is now in widespread use. Don's 37-year career at Boeing was marked by technical excellence. He had an amazing ability to troubleshoot, with a phenomenal memory and good intuition. He received ten patents for his inventions and was given many awards and recognitions over his career. He was a great mentor to younger engineers, very patient and encouraging. An unassuming man, he rarely spoke about his work successes at home.

Don served faithfully in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with callings spanning a wide range, from Elders Quorum President, High Councilor, Bishopric Member, ESL teacher, Young Men's Advisor and President, and - his favorite calling - Primary Children's Pianist. He loved to work with Spanish-speaking members and often utilized his Spanish skills from his mission. He is beloved by his church congregation with whom he has served for years.

Don had a love of family history and performing temple work for his deceased ancestors. So much so that he took time on his Caribbean cruise to search the Barbados historical records for his elusive ancestor, Richard Snow.

Don loved playing golf, and he played over one hundred games each year. He loved playing in a weekly league with friends from Boeing every summer. Don recorded detailed statistics of every game he has played since 2013 and utilized his data analysis skills to improve his game. One year, as a Christmas gift, he compared every family member to a different hole at his favorite golf course. His passion for the sport overcame his natural frugality - the golf clubs in his trunk were worth significantly more than the junker car he chose to drive.

Don was an enigma whose personality refuses categorization. While often quiet and reserved, he loved being the center of attention while performing. Karaoke was a passion of his. He loved performing in church shows both as a soloist and in the ensembles. He was a devoted U2 fan. Don loved the arts and humanities and instilled in his children a love of learning and reading and an appreciation for fine art in all forms.

In the past decade, Don had repeatedly mentioned that he felt like the luckiest man in the world. LeAnn was the love and center of his life. He also loved his four children and two grandchildren, both of whom are redheads like him. He had an abiding testimony that through Jesus Christ, families can be together forever. Don was a man of ideals, and he lived his ideals.

Don was preceded in death by his mother, Diane Manwaring Snow, mother-in-law, Dixie Juanita Magnusson, and father-in-law, Ralph Haws Magnusson. Don is survived by his father, Donald Ray Snow Sr. (91), his wife, LeAnn Magnusson Snow, his children, Teri (Michael) Draper, Ashley (Jay Karl) Webb, Vincent Snow, Lauren (Ben) Thomson, and his grandchildren, Dean and Lucy Webb, as well as his siblings, Linda (Kevin) Westover, Judy (Lance) Spencer, Kathy (Thomas) Gill, Jenny (Michael) Jackson, James (Jennie) Snow.

Funeral services will be held on December 10, 2022 at 11am in the Fountain Valley Ward, 17500 Bushard Street, Fountain Valley, California. The service will also be broadcast electronically via zoom. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 10:00am - 10:45am at the same location. Don will be interred at East Lawn Cemetery next to his mother, Diane, and grandmother, Mary Baker Snow.