Joshua Thomas Knudson

1979 - 2024

Knudson, Joshua Thomas

December 27, 1979 - November 3, 2024

Joshua Thomas Knudson, born December 27, 1979, died November 3, 2024. Josh was a special young man who passed away all too soon after a valiant battle with cancer. He was the first-born son of Tom and Maureen Knudson, entering this world on a cold, snowy evening in Midland-Odessa, Texas. He considered Tulsa his hometown having moved here as an infant. He was a precocious child who was a joy to all who knew him. He welcomed his brothers Brian in 1983 and Seth in 1986. He was a bright student at Barnard Elementary where he was active in Cub Scouts, soccer, baseball, and basketball. At age nine, Josh suffered his first grand mal seizure. His epilepsy continued for the rest of his life, despite two brain surgeries and numerous medication changes. Undeterred by seizures, he participated in sports throughout middle school and high school, enjoying soccer (as a player and a referee) and making the high school swim team. He graduated from Nathan Hale as a proud member of the Class of 1998. Scouting remained an important part of Josh's life. He earned 53 Merit Badges at Troop 19 on his path to achieving Eagle Scout in 1996. Josh loved to sing. He was a member of All Souls Unitarian Church for almost forty years. He sang in the Children's and Youth Choirs throughout his school years and traveled with the choirs throughout the U. S. as well as to London and Transylvania.

After graduation, Josh worked part time at Albertson's/Reasor's and All Souls Unitarian Church. His favorite thing in the whole world was to spend time with his extended family at any place they chose to gather across the U.S. or abroad. Josh was proud of his brothers' accomplishments and happily stood as a groomsman at their weddings. He traveled extensively overseas with his parents to Canada, China, England, France, Gibraltar, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Tanzania, Tibet, and Turkey. He loved walking on the beach collecting seashells and snorkeling. He was a lifelong camper who enjoyed hiking and fishing. He visited over sixteen National Parks from Denali in Alaska to the Dry Tortugas off the coast of Florida and everywhere in between.

Josh earned numerous medals and awards with his fellow Team Tulsa athletes at Special Olympics events throughout Oklahoma competing in basketball, bocce, bowling, track and field since 2012. He regularly attended Faithful Buds at Kirk of the Hills Church and especially enjoyed being the narrator for the annual talent show productions. Josh loved baseball, especially his beloved NY Mets. He attended numerous games to cheer on the Tulsa Drillers, along with TU basketball, softball and soccer teams. Josh was always up for a game of dominoes, cards, or a board game, or working on a jigsaw puzzle.

Josh devoured everything Star Wars, and even spent a weekend as Luke Skywalker at the Disney Star Wars Immersive Experience in Orlando in 2023. He also enjoyed James Bond and Star Trek movies, dyeing Easter eggs, carving Halloween pumpkins, and decorating the Christmas tree.

Josh loved competing and winning in sports or games, but he always wanted everyone to win and have fun. He encouraged and supported others to do their best. Josh appreciated and admired those who dedicate their lives to protecting others-policemen, firemen, paramedics, and the military. Josh was resilient in the face of the challenges presented by both his seizures and cancer. He was honest and he was kind.

Josh will remain forever in the hearts of his family and friends. Let us honor him by remembering his honesty, moral sense of right and wrong, empathy, and his simple love and trust of family and friends.

Josh is survived by his parents, Tom and Maureen Knudson, his brothers, Brian (Lauren) and Seth (Gabrielle) Knudson, his maternal grandmother, Norma Murray, his mother's siblings, Patrick, Margaret, Susan, and Stephen (Joan) Murray and Teresa (Ed) Carter, his paternal aunts, Barbara (Harold) Ellis, and Nancy Knudson, numerous cousins and a multitude of friends. Josh was predeceased by his maternal grandfather, Thomas Murray, his paternal grandparents, Alfred and Evelyn Knudson, and by his paternal uncles, John and James (Pat) Knudson.

Memorial Service to be held at All Souls Unitarian Church 2952 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa on Monday, November 18, at 1:00 p.m. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Oklahoma Special Olympics, Miller Hospice or All Souls Unitarian Church Children's and Youth Choirs.