CHRISTINE KNAUTH ARNDT

ARNDT CHRISTINE KNAUTH ARNDT 1919 - 2016 Christine Knauth Arndt died peacefully in her sleep on February 2, 2016. The daughter of Gabriella Roediger Knauth and Theodore Whitman Knauth, Christine was born on December 19, 1919 in New York City. She and four brothers and sisters; Percival, Otto, Barbara and Sybilla "Bill" enjoyed a rich childhood spanning two continents living in New York and Germany, experiencing an idyllic early life in Westchester County. Her father was a partner in a leading German-American bank, Knauth, Nachod & Kuehne. Due to the dire economic situation in Germany following World War I the bank was severely challenged and after the closure of the New York office, her family moved to Germany in 1930. There Christine witnessed the rise of fascism and the Nazi Party. In Berlin she experienced the 1936 Olympics, cheering the Americans especially Jesse Owens. The closure of the German branch of the bank took time, and at the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the family was still in Germany minus the brothers who were then in the US military in America At the entry of the US into the war in December, 1941, Christine, the sisters with their mother were in Berlin. Their father was in New York for a short trip. Frantically he arranged their exit back to America but an allied bombing of Berlin destroyed the US Embassy there which had their passports and exit papers. Escape was not possible. They were interned by the Nazis for a short time, and following their release, they spent three years in Leipzig, where as young Americans they experienced firsthand many wartime bombings of that city. In early 1944 they were able to return home in a Red Cross exchange of German and American nationals, traveling by train through war-torn Germany, France and onto Spain and Portugal where they went by ship to America. Their harrowing story of the bombings of Leipzig and their escape was told in Life magazine in a feature written by Christine''s brother, Percival, who was a Life war correspondent. Christine married Ernst-Theodore Arndt in Washington in 1945 and the couple raised their three sons, Bernhard, Michael, and Christopher in Rockville, MD. Christine devoted her life to raising her children, supporting the family''s business, and helping others. She volunteered her time to many charities, beginning with the Red Cross in 1944 after her return to America, and continuing with working with local organizations for those in need, including Bethesda Cares and the Montgomery County program of driving patients to medical appointments. Christine remained devoted to her charitable work even after the devastating motorcycle accident of her son, Michael in 1972, when her time was limited as she devoted herself to his care. Christine was preceded in death by her husband, sons Bernhard and Michael, her brothers and sister, Barbara. She leaves behind an extended loving family; her son Christopher, his wife Lynn, their three children William, Christin and Lissie; her granddaughter Gloria, beloved sister "Bill" and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom were very dear to her. "Tante Tine" was a gentle woman whose kind and loving spirit will be missed by all those she leaves behind. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Living Faith Lutheran Church, Rockville MD. In lieu of flowers, donations in Christine''s memory are asked to be sent to the Rockville Emergency Assistance Program, of Community Ministries of Rockville, 1010 Grandin Ave, Suite A-1, Rockville, MD 20151."Tante Tine" was a gentle woman whose kind and loving spirit will be missed by all those she leaves behind. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Living Faith Lutheran Church, Rockville MD. In lieu of flowers, donations in Christine''s memory are asked to be sent to the Rockville Emergency Assistance Program, of Community Ministries of Rockville, 1010 Grandin Ave, Suite A-1, Rockville, MD 20151.