Colonel John King Knope USMC

KNOPE, COLONEL JOHN KING USMC
Following the orders of His Heavenly Father, Colonel John King Knope filed his final flight plan to pass peacefully from the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. After loosing a protracted battle with Parkinson's disease he was welcomed to his heavenly home to join his parents, and three sons on July 3, 2016 at the age of 86. King was born January 24, 1930 to John W. and Rose K. Knope in East Chicago, Indiana. He subsequently moved to Ocala, Florida where he attended Blessed Trinity Academy and Saint Leo Prep School in Saint Leo, Florida, graduating with the class of 1948. Entering the University of Florida that fall, he studied engineering for three years, before his passion to fly high-performance aircraft persuaded him to enroll in the Naval Air Cadet program in Pensacola, Florida directly following graduation. He received his wings of gold in 1954 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He then embarked on a career objective to fly every type of aircraft the Marines Corps possessed, which he accomplished.
As a C-130 pilot and squadron commander, he saw extensive service in Vietnam during several tours, winning numerous decorations, including several air medals: the Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Action Medal, the Vietnam Meritorious Gallantry Cross, and two Distinguish Flying Crosses. One of the Distinguish Flying crosses was awarded for actions performed during the siege of the Khe Sanh, where a marine regiment was isolated and completely surrounded by North Vietnamese Forces. The only means of supplying the beleaguered marines and removing the wounded was by air, using a rough dirt air strip under continuous enemy fire. Colonel Knope retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1978, after 27 years of service. He continued to fly, pursuing his love of flying, by joining several different contract air carriers; flying medical, food, and clothing supplies into central Africa under the auspices of UNICEF and other relief agencies.
After accumulating in excess of 24,000 hours of flying time, King retired from flying and became the owner of Phoenix Travel Agency in Ocala. His love for his church and other people led him to befriend and give to many in need. He was a life member of the Elks Club and the Knights of Columbus. He continued to live out the role of the Good Samaritan until Parkinson's permanently grounded him. King lived his final six years in the loving care of his daughter, Kim in Lexington, Virginia.
He was preceded in death by three loving sons: Michael, Craig, and Paul Knope.
He is survived by his daughter Susan Kimberly Silvea and husband, Eric of Lexington, Virginia; two adored granddaughters, Ashley Wykle and husband Jesse of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Allison Powers of Ocala, Florida; a precocious great grandson, August Wykle; his sister Rosemary K. Trippe and husband, Sam of Easton, Maryland; their five children and nine grandchildren.
A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 12:00 noon at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Ocala, Florida. Interment will take place at a later date at Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest, California.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in King's name to Blessed Trinity Catholic Church or your favorite charity.