Thomas F. Knights

Thomas F. Knights, the legendary master of dad jokes and champion of all things cheesy, passed away on October 30, 2024 at the ripe old age of 78. Born on September 28, 1946, Thomas graced the world with dad humor that could make even the grumpiest cat smile—though, to be fair, the cat probably rolled its eyes before doing so.

He spent his days perfecting the art of the groan-worthy pun and spreading joy wherever he went. If you ever needed a good laugh—or an actual punchline—Thomas was your go-to guy. You could hear him cracking up at his own jokes while the rest of us were trying to figure out if it was time to chuckle or simply breathe deeply to survive the awkwardness.

Thomas is survived by his impressive collection of mismatched socks and an infinite number of cringe-worthy ties and bowling balls. Friends and family may never fully recover from the barrage of jokes he inflicted upon them over the years. They will fondly remember him yelling, “I’ve got a joke for you!” just before they sensed an impending eye-roll.

Now, as he ventures into the great beyond, we can only imagine him finding a way to make the angels groan as he shares his best one-liners while trying to avoid the “here-for-a-good-time-but-not-a-long-time” line dance. Thomas will be greatly missed, though we can't help but chuckle at the thought of him orchestrating heavenly father-son style picnics, complete with terrible puns and an endless supply of cookies.

So, raise a glass (or a tie) in honor of Thomas F. Knights, a true legend whose spirit will forever remain a little corny and undoubtedly hilarious. May his laughter echo through the heavens, and may we always remember that when in doubt, there's always a dad joke waiting to alleviate the heaviness of life—though preferably not as heavy as Thomas’s collection of bowling balls!

Predeceased by his father, Franklin Knights; mother, Arlene; siblings, Franklin, Harry, Florence and Alma.

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Karen; daughter, Michelle (Chris) Adams; grandson, Daniel (Rose) Cook-Stender; best pal, Jaxx; siblings, Bert (Gene) Johnson, Clara Hodge, Phil (Mitzi) Knights; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Thomas' Celebration of Life will be held on May 24th, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at Living Word, 2344 Ridge Road, Ontario, NY 14519 (GPS highly recommended, because who trusts my sense of direction?).

Bring your favorite stories, jokes, and pictures (bonus points for embarrassing ones; Dad loved those), and gear up for laughter, tears, and maybe even crying from laughing—because that’s how Dad would’ve wanted us to honor him! Let’s celebrate his life in style, knowing he’s kicking back in the hereafter, enjoying his eternal life, and probably giving us all his two cents from afar.

Cheers, Karen, Michelle, Chris, Daniel, & Rose. Oh, and yes—Jaxx will be wagging his tail in approval!

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to: American Lung Association, American Heart Association or Living Word Assembly of God.

To share a memory of Thomas or leave a special message for his family, visit the guest book below.