John A. Knowlton Sr.

1923 - 2017

John A. Knowlton, Sr. was born in Los Angeles, CA on October 15, 1923, to George A. and Francis Knowlton, and passed peacefully in his sleep Wednesday morning, April 12, 2017, with his loving wife by his side.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 35 years, Mary Gipson-Knowlton; sister Patricia Morgan of Long Beach, CA.; children Deborah Knowlton of Twin Peaks, CA and John Knowlton Jr. (Janice) and bonus children Mike Gipson (Kim) and Lorinda Schneider of Bakersfield. John was preceded in death by his parents, sister Frances, brother Wynn, and Patricia Knowlton, mother of his children.
In eighth grade, John won an art contest and this began his lifelong love for oil painting. While attending Huntington Beach High School, he joined 4-H and raised beef cattle, which led to his more than 30-year professional career in the livestock business as a cattle buyer and feedlot owner.
John graduated from Notre Dame University and served in the U. S. Navy during World War II as a Naval Officer and in the U. S. Naval Reserve for the next 13 years. John attended and graduated from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. He continued his art education in Bakersfield and at the California Art Institute.
A lifelong cattleman and artist, John combined his two loves into his western artwork and historical murals. His works include 6 murals in Bishop and murals at the McDonald's Restaurant and the Beverly and Jim Rogers Western Film Museum in Lone Pine. His mural in Bakersfield is part of the Oildale Beautification Project. John lived in Morro Bay for 28 years owning a boat yard and art studio and was the commodore at the Mono Bay Yacht Club.
Pastors Steve Hunt and Robin Robinson will officiate a memorial service to be held Friday, April 21, 2017, at 1:00 pm at Mission Funeral Home, 561 California Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93304. Msgr. Ronald Swett will officiate the internment on Monday, April 24, 2017, at 2:00 pm at the Bakersfield National Cemetery, 30338 E Bear Mountain Blvd, Arvin, CA 93203.