Rev. Allen Gene Knicely

Rev. Allen Gene Knicely, 86, of Bridgewater, went to meet Jesus on Sunday, August 31, 2025. He was born November 25, 1938 near Staunton, VA. He was the son of the late A.O. and Mary Francis Terry Knicely. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Naomi Grant Knicely, whom he married in 1962 and died in 1977, his second wife, Doris Kohne Knicely, whom he married in 1978 and died in 1995, and a brother Glen Knicely.
Gene is survived by his wife, Anna Wine Knicely of 29 years; sons, Tim (Terri) Knicely, Nathan Petit, and Nolan Petit, all of Harrisonburg, VA; step-daughter, Sue Claytor; four grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; brother, Don (Sandy) Knicely of Bridgewater; a sister, Debbie (Randy) Simmons, of Staunton, VA and Texas, sister-in-law, Darlena Knicely Burch of Penn Laird.
Gene graduated from Wilson Memorial High School, class of 1956, and attended Bridgewater College and Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Dayton. In the summer of 1952, at the age of 15, he was the youngest person to attend Woodrow Wilson Technical Center where he received his barber diploma. He worked with his father off and on for 16 years at the Mt. Sidney Barber shop. He took time away from barbering to serve 2 years in Brethren Volunteer Service in Cleveland, Ohio where he met his first wife.
He also worked in the Rose Hill Barber Shop in Alexandria, VA. In September of 1963, he was called and licensed to the ministry by Summit Church of Brethren, where he was ordained in 1969. In 1966-1968 he served as part-time pastor at Pleasant Hill COB in Crimora, VA and in 1968-1970 was part time associate pastor at Pleasant Valley COB in Weyers Cave, VA. In 1970 he felt the call to full time ministry. He packed up his barber tools and began serving as pastor at Mt. Bethel COB in Lilly, VA. In 1978 he was called to Wakemans Grove COB where he served for 21 years. He then had to retire being diagnosed with Primary Lateral Scleroses, a debilitating neuromuscular disease. He also served as a volunteer industrial Chaplin with ICM at Rocco Farm Foods in Edinburg for 17 years. He loved to sing. He sang with groups through high school and college. He sang with special chorus in high school which included members of the Statler Brothers. He last sang with a group of ministers called "The Holy Terrors" from Edinburg.
He loved to travel with his family. He took each of his wives on two camping trips to California. Some of their favorite spots were Colorado Springs, CO and Lorida, Fl. After retirement he and Anna spent many winters in their home at Palms Estates in Lorida, FL. He loved restoring old tractors, like Panzer and his model G Allis Chalmers. After the PLS diagnosis, he had to give up tractors for woodworking when he made many toys for kids, like over 200 marble towers and many trains. He also enjoyed playing games with friends, watching sports on TV and listening to southern gospel and bluegrass music. In 2009, when travel became too difficult, he and Anna moved to Bridgewater Retirement Community. He was a member of the Wakemans Grove COB.
A visitation will be held from 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at Wakemans Grove Church of the Brethren in Edinburg, followed by a funeral service at 11AM, with Pastors Deborah Horst, Randy Simmons, and Jerry Ruff officiating. Burial will follow at 3:30 PM at Summit Church of the Brethren Cemetery in Bridgewater.
Thank you to Johnson Funeral & Cremation Service in Bridgewater for handling the arrangements. The family would also like to thank the staff of Bridgewater Home's Joy House for all the love and care provided to Gene.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wakemans Grove COB, 668 Wakemans Grove Rd, Edinburg, VA 22824 and/or Bridgewater Retirement Community Foundation, 302 North Second St., Bridgewater, VA 22812 or the charity of your choice.