Margaret and William Knight

Margaret Coan Knight 12/17/1920 - 8/23/2012 and William Travis Knight 1/7/1920 - 1/28/2011 Two members of "The Greatest Generation" have passed. Margaret (Maggie) Knight died on August 23rd from complications of dementia. She was preceded in death by her lifetime partner and love, Bill Knight, who died on January, 28, 2011 from metastatic melanoma in his brain. Margaret was born in Strawn, Texas to Ila and Bart Coan. She graduated from Ft. Davis H.S. at age 16 and went on to obtain her Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of TX at 19. She returned to Ft. Davis and began teaching school in nearby Marfa, TX, where she met Bill. Bill was born in Marfa to Denton and Mollie Knight, and was the youngest of eight surviving children. His family owned the Chilicote Ranch outside of Valentine, TX, and Bill was given his first job helping with roundups at age seven. He grew up a true cowboy, working cattle on horseback for his family, as well as for other ranchers in the area, in rough terrain over extended periods of time, sleeping out on the open range. Bill and Margaret met, courted, fell in love, and then were married on June 1, 1942. WWII was in progress and Bill had already enlisted in the Army Air Corps. As he moved from base to base for training, Margaret was a "camp follower," driving across the country in a car with a barrel of gasoline in the trunk. After Bill graduated from flight school as a 2nd Lieutenant, he was given a B-25 and told to "fly that plane to Africa." He did, and Margaret returned to Texas, where she worried and taught school. Bill flew 48 missions over Italy, France, and Austria as a member of the 310th Bomber Squadron. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross on one mission for, as he put it, "missing the target." As lead pilot, he and his squad bombed a mountainside, which buried the bridge he was supposed to hit. He took some glee in noting that the bridge was not repairable when covered by a landslide. After the war, they were stationed at various bases stateside. In 1948, they were sent as part of the U.S. occupation forces to Itazuke Air Base in Japan. During their tour of duty, the Korean War broke out and Bill was ordered to fly F-80 and P-51 aircraft in combat. They would grimly recall that much of Bill's squadron was wiped out during the first weeks of the conflict. Bill logged 110 missions over Korea and Margaret worked as a "Grey Lady," greeting severely wounded soldiers and airmen on the flight line as they arrived at the base for medical treatment. Margaret and Bill returned to the States in 1951, and she returned to teaching while he went on to fly B-47 planes before he was grounded by a back injury. Their last posting was at Davis-Monthan. Bill did one last combat tour of duty in 1965 in Vietnam. At the time of his retirement in 1969, Bill was a Lt. Colonel in command of the 100th Field Maintenance Squadron, in charge of maintenance and repair of U-2 reconnaissance planes. In his career, he earned eight Air Medals in addition to his DFC. Margaret continued to teach wherever they were stationed, while also working to raise their two daughters, Margaret Anne (1956) and Susan Simmons (1958). Once settled in Tucson, Margaret obtained her Master's Degree in Education from the University of Arizona. Concurrently, she began a long career teaching in TUSD, first at C.E. Rose Elementary, then at Fruchthendler Elementary, where she educated 5th and 6th graders until she retired in 1988. Bill completed his Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science at the U of A after his retirement from the military. Retirement was a loose term for Margaret and Bill, since they both stayed very engaged in work and volunteering in their communities, especially in Fort Davis, where Margaret was elected to the School Board numerous times, in addition to serving on the Library Board, and tutoring elementary students. Bill was a long-time member and president of his Tucson townhome association, as well as a volunteer for the TX Horned Lizard Watch for the Parks and Wildlife Dept., a happy co-pilot for any generous friend willing to take him up in a plane, and a shark at the Sunday night poker games held with Ft. Davis friends. Margaret rarely met a person she didn't "love" and invite to "come visit us in Ft. Davis!" Bill never met a stranger or a cowboy or pilot he didn't want to swap stories with, and he took pride in his service as a three-Wars Veteran and in being greeted warmly by many of the airmen he had commanded over the years. They were devoted parents, doting grandparents, happy in-laws, conscientious citizens, kind neighbors, generous friends, superior cooks, gregarious hosts, curious world travelers, immense lovers of life, and true partners in all things. Margaret was a two-time breast cancer survivor and Bill had survived a heart attack and cardiac arrest. They were determined to stay as healthy, active, and happy as possible, and were truly grateful to anyone who helped facilitate that. In this regard, special thanks are offered to Drs. John Manfredonia, Ray O. Hatch, Monty Morales, Paul Yurkanin and their terrific office staffs, and to Dr. Vietti and the team at St. Mary's Wound Healing Center, the TMC Hospice team, and the wonderful staff of the Skilled Nursing Unit at the Forum in Tucson. Bill and Margaret's most important achievement was being extraordinary parents to Margaret Anne and Susan. They were unwavering in their love, attention, encouragement, guidance, and support, and they took pains to impart optimism and resilience to "Muffy and Susie." Margaret and Bill were tireless boosters of every choir, drama, sports, and other extracurricular activity in which the girls participated. They tolerated psychedelic mushrooms painted on their mailbox and encouraged spirited debates over dinner. Both girls' friends knew they were always welcome at the Knights' for snacks, Cokes, dinner, Parcheesi, or the odd quart of oil for a leaky car. Bill and Margaret were overjoyed at the birth of Susan's son, William Taylor, in 1994. No grandparents could be any prouder or more loving of a child than they were of Will. If you were within earshot of them for more than a minute, you were sure to get an enthusiastic update on Will's talents and accomplishments. Margaret and Bill were preceded in death by their beloved son-in-law, Bill Williams (2004). They are survived by Margaret, a counselor in Tucson and by Susan, a teacher; her husband, Paul, a screenwriter and their son, Will, an artist and student, all of Los Angeles; as well as by numerous cherished friends in Tucson and Ft. Davis. If you wish to make a remembrance for this dynamic duo, they would have appreciated donations to Arizona Border Collie Rescue (azbordercollierescue.com) or to any fund for public education. At their request, no formal services will be held at this time, but if you ever enjoyed the company of "Maggie and Bill," please gather with friends over drinks and a meal, and laugh raucously as you remember and celebrate the lives of these two exceptional human beings. Arrangements by HEATHER MORTUARY.