Robert L. Knight

Knight, Robert L. GUILDERLAND Robert L. Knight passed peacefully from this life on September 7, 2016. He was surrounded and supported by his loving family during the last days of his life. His wit and keen sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him. He was born in Harrison, Ark. on November 13, 1927, the son of the late Ruth and Clifford Knight; and older brother of the late Don Knight. The family moved to Oklahoma in 1929 where he attended school. Upon graduating from the Ponca City High School in 1945, Robert served three years in the Navy, and then went to the University of Oklahoma. He married his sweetheart in 1950 and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1952. He worked for R.C.A. after graduation, where he developed new tubes for the burgeoning television industry. Flight was his passion though, so he joined G.E. in Evendale, Ohio. There he designed the afterburner controls for the J79 jet engine. Chuck Yeager broke yet another air speed record (Mach 2.5) with this engine in the F104 jet plane. He designed components of helicopter engines in Lynn, Mass. before going to Schenectady. He was manager of Field Service Support, then manager of Manufacturing Associates in other countries, diagnosing and resolving problems with the gas turbine engines used in power plants around the world. During his career at G.E., he traveled to 148 countries. He retired after 33 years. He was active in Boy Scouts and local politics in Danvers, Mass., serving as a Town Meeting Member and on the Board of Appeals besides being a junior achievement advisor for several years. Family was of utmost importance to him, as shown by the care given to his mother and Helen's mother. He shared his many interests with his sons, especially auto repair, travel, skiing, hiking, camping, memory-making experiences as well as educational. Learning from life as well as books was important to him. This legacy is perpetuated by his sons and his grandchildren. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Helen (Finney) Knight; and their three sons, Glenn Knight (Penny) and their children, Jennifer Reagan (James) and Bradford Knight (Nilla); Darryl Knight and his children, Melissa DuBois (Mike), Alan Knight, Rachael Fletcher (Joey) and Leita Knight; Brian Knight (Suzanne) and their son, Griffin; as well as three great-grandchildren, Ember DuBois and Ariana and Josiah Fletcher, along with many nieces, nephews and in-laws. The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the staff of the second floor B wing of the Teresian House for their compassionate care of Bob and their many courtesies to his wife. Calling hours will be 12:30-1:30 p.m. on September 17, at the Teresian House with a memorial service to follow in the Teresian House Chapel. Interment will take place in Oklahoma at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation, cancer, dementia or stroke research foundations, or to the Teresian House in Albany.