Roger Alan Knight

Roger Alan Knight passed away peacefully on December 14, 2016 in Bothell, Washington with family members at his side.  He was born March 27, 1929 in Lansing, Michigan and was the oldest child of George E. Knight and Doris M. Smith Knight.  He was preceded in death by his parents and twin sisters, Joan Runciman and Jean Smith.

Roger leaves behind a family that loved him dearly; daughter June Knight and her husband Howard Bundy, daughter Jayne Knight, son Roger Alan Knight Jr. and his wife Pia, and son Donald Knight and his wife Pam, along with 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Roger grew up in Michigan and years later described it as a “great place to be from.”  Independent and determined as soon as Roger turned 17, before high school graduation, he joined the Navy without consulting his parents.  He often told the story about “eating 5 bananas” to reach the Navy’s minimum weight requirements.  As a very young sailor, he earned Hospital Apprentice Second Class (Pharmacist’s Mate) status, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Over the years, he built a career selling forgings, mostly for the aerospace industry, starting from the metal shop and working his way up into sales.  He moved to Southern California in 1957, and to Washington in 1978.  His social skills, charisma, hard work, and business integrity contributed to a very successful career in an industry he was excited to be a part of.

To describe Roger, the words proud, good-natured, stoic and a good sense of humor come to mind. He loved motorcycles, cars, golf, women, photography, beer, cigars, politics, reading, flowers, and martinis.  He also enjoyed traveling, especially to Germany, Hawaii, and Spain, as well as all over the continental United States.

We feel blessed that he was always there in our lives; quietly waiting for our calls, always ready to take us to lunch or dinner, never asking or wanting anything for himself.  We will always cherish our memories of the times we spent with him.  We will miss him so much.