Walter Knowles

Walter A. "G-Da" Knowles, 78, of Union Grove, AL, died Wednesday (May 23, 2007) at his residence. A native of New York, he had lived in Murphy before moving to Union Grove in 2005. He was the son of the late Thomas H. and Ruth Ainslie Knowles. He served his country in the US Navy from February of 1947 until July of 1967 with the grade of Chief Petty Officer/E7. He received many honors for Good Conduct, China Service, Navy Occupation, National Defense, and United Nations commendations. He participated in the Asiatic-Pacific area in the Korean Conflict. He then served 26 years with RCA in Florida as a Plant Supervisor. He did missionary work in Honduras to rebuild houses and in Oklahoma to rebuild after the tornadoes. He was an active volunteer fire department Chief in Unaka and donated 5.5 gallons of blood to the Red Cross over his lifetime. He was an accomplished sailor and he built 13 windmill sailboats by hand.

Surviving are his wife, Patricia Clark Knowles; two sons, Keith Knowles of Murphy and Bryan Knowles and wife, Barbara of Union Grove; a brother, Thomas Knowles Jr. of Florida; and five grandchildren, Thomas Knowles of California, and Andrew Knowles, Joshua Boswell, Patricia Knowles, and Victor Boswell all of Union Grove.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Unaka.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Walter A. Knowles to the The American Parkinson Disease Association, 1250 Hylan Blvd., Suite 4B, Staten Island, NY 10305.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy was in charge of arrangements.

An online guest register is available at "Obituaries" at www.iviefuneralhome.com