Richard L. Knight

Richard L. Knight “Opa” passed away on Feb. 20, 2012 at his residence in Doyle, Calif. Mr. Knight was born Oct. 14, 1939 in Caruthers, Calif. He was a very loving and caring man. Mr. Knight enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1959 where he proudly served hi country for 23 years. He met and married his wife Katie M. Bauer in Heidelberg, Germany in 1963. They were married for 30 years and blessed with two children. He retired form the military in 1982 and continued to work for the city of Salinas, Calif. in the public works department until 1993. Mr. Knight began to enjoy his retirement and took on a new adventure in 1997 when he moved to Doyle, Calif. Mr. Knight spent the last few years volunteering for the Family Resource Center and doing a lot of work for the community, his friendly smile and presence will be missed.

Mr. Knight is survived by his daughter Janice M. Gotcher; son-in-law Ricky A. Gotcher; his grandchildren Kandance Smiles, Sarah Gotcher and Nicole Gotcher. He is also survived by his siblings Luella Starkey, from Manford, Okla., Elroy Knight from Delano, Calif., Ethelene Morris from Selma, Calif., Joyce Padgett form Ceres, Calif. and Shirley Dotson from Cumby, Texas.

He is preceded in death by his wife Katie Knight and his son Richard L. Knight, Jr.; his parents Charles Wesley and Hattie Bertha Knight; and seven siblings, June Starkey, Lila Davis, Milburn Knight, Roland Knight, Beverly Horner and Robert Knight.

There will be a memorial at 11 a.m. March 3 at the Herlong Chapel Building at 170 D.S. Hall St.

There will be a graveside service at 11 a.m. March 10 at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Salinas, Calif.