Edward Wiley McKnight Jr., age 78, died peacefully after several weeks of severe illness at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, Alabama on Friday, July 1, at 10:05 p.m.
Mr. McKnight was a professional scientific laboratory assistant and scientific instrument maker. He also instructed graduate physics students in the use of the physics lab and assisted graduate students with their projects.
He received this training from his physics professor while attending the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Later, he worked at the University of Miami where he ordered equipment and set up the lab for the university’s new medical school.
Ed and his family later moved to Boca Raton, where he worked as shop supervisor for the physics department at Florida Atlantic University. While living in Boca, he enjoyed many happy saltwater fishing trips with friends on his boat, the Chatham, and enjoyed a long time hobby of restoring older sports cars. His favorite restoration car was a two-seater Mercedes.
During the ‘80s and ‘90s, he was a staff member at the University of Austin. Ed was a “jack of all trades,” the one called to troubleshoot mechanical problems during his tenure there.
After almost completing an English degree at the University of North Carolina, he completed his bachelor of arts degree at the University of North Carolina, he completed his bachelor of arts degree in English at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. He especially enjoyed a course in creative writing, particularly doing historical research for one of his stories set in the early 1900s.
Following his retirement from the University of Texas in 1999, he moved to Fairhope where his parents, Ed and Helen Bush McKnight, had retired. There, he met and married his wife, Marion Woods.
He enjoyed photography, classical music, Mobile Symphony Orchestra concerts, his 1977 Porsche, surfing the internet, reading the Wall Street Journal, genealogy and living in Fairhope.
He loved dining at the Yardarm Restaurant and sunsets at the pier. He was a member of Fairhope Methodist Church.
Ed wanted to be remembered as a loveable ole’ curmudgeon with a kind and generous heart. He will always be remembered as one. When he smiled, it was like the sun coming out of the clouds.
He was courageous through many health struggles and showed amazing strength and courage through his final illness. He was loyal, strong in his beliefs and a perfectionist. He loved animals all his life and was often followed by dogs at animal rescues, particularly golden Labs.
He is survived by his wife, (Marion); son, Edward Wiley McKnight III (Linda) (Florida); daughter, Susan McKnight (Florida); brother, Robert Oren McKnight (Sandra) (Ohio); nephews, Robert Bush McKnight (Yoshi) and James McKnight (Ohio), Jesse Johnson (Kristi, great-niece, Teghan; and niece, Dr. Helen Cali (Utah); great-niece and nephew, Tori and Bodie Hollensworth; and pet, Alex.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Mire, Dr. Amari, Dr. Trice, Dr. Pluscht, Dr. McLeod, Dr. Davidson, the hospitalist doctors, the nurses (particularly the second floor wing staff) and all others at Thomas Hospital who treated him for their care and professionalism.
Special thanks go to the staff of Fresenius Dialysis Center in Fairhope for all they did for Ed with treatment and kindness. He really enjoyed the companionship of the doctors, nurses, technicians and other professionals.
We will always remember the faithfulness of Dr. Ed Glaize and Dr. Ann Pearson of Fairhope Methodist Church for their daily hospital visits and prayers.
Ed’s celebration of life service will be held in the sanctuary of Fairhope United Methodist Church at 11 on Friday, July 8. Visitation will be from 10-11 at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation be made to the National Kidney Foundation (serving Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia), 270 Peachtree St., Suite 1040, Atlanta, GA 30303, or the American Heart Association, 900 Western American Circle, Suite 209, Mobile, AL 36609, or Shepherd’s Place, Fairhope Methodist Church, 155 S. Section St., Fairhope, AL 36532.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., 19698 Greeno Road, Fairhope, AL 36532, 251-990-7775, www.wolfefuneralhomes.com.
