David Knight

OXFORD - David F. Knight, 91, died Monday, January 7, 2013, at the Ichabod Washburn Hospice Residence in Worcester. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Gertrude S. Knight of Oxford; a daughter, Mary K. Desy of Worcester; two stepchildren, George W. Lamb of Springfield, VT, and Susan T. Lamb of Washington, DC; two granddaughters, Lee A. Desy of Worcester and Brenda M. Diggs of Worcester; three great granddaughters, Dominique and Ava Diggs of Worcester, and Sara Wong of Washington, DC; three step grandchildren, Hudson Lamb of Springfield, VT, Julia Lamb of Tampa, FL, and Catherine Lamb of Philadelphia, PA; a niece, Carolyn Ward of Sacramento, CA; a nephew, Ralph Knight of Worcester; two grand nieces and two grand nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Ralph Knight of Worcester. He was born in Worcester, the son of the late Lucien and Bertha (Quirk) Knight, and lived in Charlton and Worcester before moving to Oxford in 1971. He graduated from Worcester Boys Trade High School in 1940 and attended Fitchburg State College. Mr. Knight was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War, serving in the Atlantic and Pacific aboard the U.S.S. Proteus. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post 5663, the American Legion Post 58, and the Oxford Memorial Honor Guard as a member and chaplain, all in Oxford. He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 53 in Webster, the Korean War Veterans Central Massachusetts Chapter, and was a member of the Webster/Dudley Veterans Council. He dedicated his entire life to military veterans. Mr. Knight taught carpentry at Bay Path Vocation High School in Charlton for 2 years, retiring in 1974. Previously, he taught carpentry at Cole Trade High School in Southbridge for 18 years and was a carpenter for several companies in Worcester. He was a member of the Massachusetts Teacher's Association and the Southern Worcester County Retired Teacher's Association. He was a member of the National Retired Teacher's Association and the Retired State, County, and Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts. Mr. Knight was a member of St. Ann's Church in North Oxford and was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4241 in Oxford. He was a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels and volunteered for the Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf. His favorite pastimes were going to the beach, yard sales, and flea markets. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and many friends. A funeral will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2013, from Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford, followed by a Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Ann's Church, 652 Main St., North Oxford. Military burial will follow at North Cemetery, Oxford. Calling hours are Friday, January 11, 2013, from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Oxford Memorial Honor Guard participating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf, 4 Maple Rd., Oxford, MA 01540, or to the Worcester Veteran's Shelter, 69 Grove St., Worcester, MA 01605.