York County poet: ‘Her words helped win the war,’ Part II
Flo Snyder Neff, a World War II-era office employee at York (Pa.) Corporation, penned poetry that went to Yorkco employees on the warfront and homefront. She read her poetry at a recent Osher Lifelong Learning Institute class at Penn State York and was warmly received. Also of interest: York County poet: ‘Her words helped win the war,’ Part II and York County’s Bob Senft, World War II vet, exemplified the Greatest Generation and World War II combat hero from York County: ‘Avenged the death of his platoon leader’ and All World War II posts from the start.
Flo Snyder’s words of encouragement in verse form were read by thousands of men and women in uniform and in York Corporation’s employ in World War II.
About five years ago, I asked Flo Snyder Neff to read her poetry at my presentation before Red Lion Area Historical Society.
Just last week, she did an encore before an OLLI class. (See three of her poems below.)
Here is how “Shop News,” the Yorkco newsletter carrying her poetry, introduced the teenage Dallastown High School graduate in November 1943:
“This comely young lady is our poetess. She has been writing her column, ‘Flo’s Scrapbook,’ for the past few issues and in this short time with us has gained a host of readers.
“Yes, fellows, we know that Flo would not have to write poetry as far as you are concerned, but she does, and does it ‘just for fun.’ She began writing verse while in high school and contributed regularly to the school paper.
“Flo has been contemplating a career as a dietitian, and we were afraid that we would lose her, but she now has given the nod in our favor. Dietetics loss is our gain. Her column will appear regularly in ‘Shop News.’ “
Flo Snyder left Yorkco shortly thereafter to answer the urgent wartime need for trained nurses. This “life learner” later served as a school nurse and elementary guidance counselor in the Red Lion Area School District.
To learn more
Read my York Sunday News (3/14/10) column about Flo Snyder Neff’s visit to my OLLI: Recalling home front heroes of WW II.
More about OLLI
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will hold a spring course preview at 2 p.m. March 31 at the Conference Center in the main classroom building at Penn State York.
Information about courses, set to begin the week of April 12, will be presented. Contact: 771-4015 or olli@yk.psu.edu.
State York.
