The Rev. Linda Snyder, former pastor of Florin United Methodist Church in Sacramento, died Tuesday of complications from necrotizing fasciitis, her family said. She was 62.
The Rev. Snyder led a multicultural congregation at Florin United Methodist Church from 2001 to 2011. She was a board member and former president of the South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership and volunteered at the group's food pantry.
She was appointed pastor of Citrus Heights United Methodist Church last year but stepped down in January after she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. The bacterial infection, also known as flesh-eating disease, developed in an abscess on her back and led to a coma, pneumonia and other complications, said her daughter, Karen Snyder.
Born Sept. 10, 1949, in San Francisco, Linda Parsons grew up in Redwood City. She graduated from UC Berkeley and earned a master's degree in early childhood education and a teaching credential from California State University, San Francisco. She taught preschool and after-school programs in Redwood City and oversaw day care and other nonmilitary services at Moffett Field Naval Air Station.
She earned a master's degree in divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1995 and started her ministry as a United Methodist pastor in Sebastopol. She served on the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Northern California- Nevada Annual Conference.
"She was always a woman of faith, but she felt a call to share her gifts at the next level," her daughter said.
Besides her daughter, who lives in Sacramento, the Rev. Snyder is survived by her husband of 33 years, Charles Snyder of Sacramento; sons, Daniel Snyder of Sacramento and Jamel Bankett of Fort Sill, Okla.; mother, Margaret Parsons of Sacramento; sisters, Catherine Parsons and Barbara Florio of Elk Grove; brothers, Bob Parsons of Citrus Heights and Jonathan Parsons of Lake Shastina; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service is set for 2 p.m. June 30 at Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church, 6929 Franklin Blvd., Sacramento.
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