Joseph Towler Knox

1935 - 2025

Joseph Towler Knox

February 22, 1935 - November 5, 2025

Joseph Towler Knox passed away on November 5, 2025 at the age of 90. Joe was born in Memphis, Tenn., the second son of John (Jack) Gill Knox and Edith (Speedy) Towler Knox. In 1947 the family moved to Nashville where he spent mornings and evenings delivering the Nashville Banner and Evening Tennessean which earned him enough money to pay for his first year in college. After graduating from West High School in Nashville, Joe went on to Princeton University where he starred in many theatrical performances with the Princeton Triangle Club, majored in French, minored in Russian and graduated as a member of the Great Class of 1956. After two years serving in Naval Intelligence at the Pentagon, he arrived on the scene in Richmond, Virginia to teach English at St. Christopher's School.

He met his wife, Ella-Prince Trimmer at an English teacher's conference and between the two of them, it is safe to say that most of the Saint Catherine's and Saint Christopher's student body were taught by or touched in some way by their classes or presence on campus during their tenure as teachers.

In 1965, Joe was asked to start the foreign language department at St. Christopher's School. By the time he retired after 42 years in the classroom, he had the opportunity to teach some of the grandchildren of his first students who were in the eighth grade when he joined the faculty. His teaching encompassed a wide range of subjects as he also taught Russian and incorporated teaching Art History in French as part of the French curriculum.

Joe's continued pursuit of academic excellence included an M.A. in English from Vanderbilt University (1964) and an M. A. in French from the University of Richmond (1970). He organized French film festivals and conferences, started the Comedie-Richmondaine, actively participated in the programs of the American Association of Teachers of French and was recognized as a leader in that organization. He was the recipient of a prestigious Kingenstein Fellowship at Columbia University (1987-88), and in 1988 the Virginia Cavalcade published his article "le General Lee" concerning the French sculptor Mercie's statue of Robert E. Lee in Richmond. In 1982 the French Government awarded him the title of Chevalier of its Palmes Academiques for his contributions to the appreciation of French culture.

While he expanded his vocabulary in multiple languages including but not limited to French, Russian, Italian, Japanese and Chinese, he was also instrumental in the theatre. It might be said that the world was his stage. In addition to starting the joint St. Catherine's/St. Christopher's drama program (the Saint Kits players/Ampersand), he took groups of students to France and Russia, starting an exchange program with Rouen, France and arranging for students to live with Russian families in St. Petersburg while teaching at a local school there. His curiosity and thirst for knowledge and his willingness to share his knowledge and experience with others were boundless. It has been said "If you have a question and want to know the answer, ask Mr. Knox, but don't ask Mr. Knox if you don't have time for the complete answer."

Joe loved his family, his students and the study of language. Late in his teaching career he gave a series of chapel talks at St. Christopher's that were later published in a small volume called Brush your teeth and say your prayers and other simple messages.

In 2003 after retiring from the St. Christopher's faculty in 2000, Joe met and married Jane Milstein Joel Knox. They enjoyed many happy years traveling together or with family. He continued to use his French to assist Jane with her art collection and art books focused on 19th Century American painters who studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Whenever Jane saw Joe speaking French with a French native with ease and abandon, she swelled with pride. Together they gifted many paintings to their beloved Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

Joe was predeceased by his first wife, Ella-Prince Trimmer Knox; his parents; his brothers, Jack Knox and Britt Knox, and his sister, Phoebe Knox Binkley. He is survived by his wife, Jane Joel Knox; daughters, Eliza Knox Buxton (Bill), and Daisy Megowan Knox; grandchildren, Joseph Towler "Knox" Buxton and Lucy Wilson Buxton; along with many nieces and nephews. His greatest legacy will forever remain in the hearts and minds he had the opportunity to teach and inspire.

A private burial is planned for Monday, November 24th followed by a celebration of life/service of remembrance at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 8 North Laurel Street, Richmond, VA 23220 at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Christopher's School - Joseph Towler Knox Endowed Mastership of Distinguished Teaching, https://stchristophers.myschoolapp.com/page/giving/make-a-gift. the Westminster Canterbury Employee Celebration Fund or the American Cathedral in Paris.