 Snelling was born Barbara Tuttle Weil in 1928 in Fall River, Massachusetts, the daughter of Hazel (née Russell) and The Reverend F. Taylor Weil.She served as chair of the Shelburne School Board; as Founding Chair of Champlain Valley Union High School Board.She was member of the State Board of Education; President of the Vermont State School Boards Association; Vermont Commission on Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation; Chair of the Chittenden County United Way.