Barbara J. Knight

Barbara (Tough) Knight, of Fort Wayne, passed peacefully from this life on Sunday, December 16. She died in her apartment at Coventry Meadows in the company of loving family. Mrs. Knight was born Barbara Jean Tough on September 2, 1925 in Tottenham, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Sara and James Tough. She grew up on a Canadian farm during the Depression, one of seven children. She served in the Canadian Women's Army Corp during World War II where she met Albert Knight, her husband of 62 years, who was serving in the U.S. Army in the Aleutian Islands. They were married on April 13, 1946 and took up residence in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For years they raised their family of six children in the home they built in Hessen Cassel, Indiana, before moving back to Fort Wayne. Barbara Knight was active in the Laubach Literacy program during the 1970s, serving as a volunteer teacher, a teacher-trainer, and as Indiana Chairwoman of the program. She was a founding member of the Fort Wayne Scottish Cultural Society, and she was active in parish church activities, including ministry to prison inmates. A tireless researcher of family genealogy, she traveled extensively with Mr. Knight in the U.S. and abroad. She was a gifted visual artist in paint and stained glass, whose creativity also found outlet through gardening, sewing, and other needlecrafts. She loved reading, listening to opera, and playing card games. She proudly became a U.S. citizen on February 9, 1996. Barbara is survived by daughter Beverly (Walt) Rieger Jr. of Fort Wayne; daughter Marie Butler-Knight of Spencer, Indiana; son Stephen (Debra) Knight of Fort Wayne; daughter Ruth Knight (Edward Rosen) of Portland, Oregon; daughter Jean Knight (Steve Jacobson) of El Granada, California; son William Knight (Connie Michael) of South Whitley, In; sisters Eleanor (Nellie) Armstrong of Barrie, Ontario, Glenna Smith of Kitchener, Ontario, Joan (Bruce) McCallum of London, Ontario, and Shirley (Bob) Dion of Innisfil, Ontario; brother Bill (Katie) Tough of Langley, British Columbia; brother-in-law Richard Knight of Stow, Ohio; sisters-in-law Florence Isaacs of Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Pat Knight of Greenwood, Indiana; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Albert, her two parents, and brother Bruce Tough. The heart of her family and a friend to many, she will be greatly missed. The family would like to thank the staff at Heartland Hospice and Coventry Meadows Assisted Living for their friendship and loving care of Barbara. Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 am Wednesday December 19, 2012 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 10700 Aboite Center Road, with calling one hour prior. Calling also Tuesday from 5:00 pm-9:00 pm with a Vigil service at 8:30 pm at D.O. McComb Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne. Burial in Catholic Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Indiana . Memorials may be made to the Allen County Heart Association or Scottish Cultural Society. To sign the online guest book, go to www.mccombandsons.com.