DAVID HOLDEN KNIGHT

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DAVID HOLDEN KNIGHT Surrounded by his family, David Holden Knight passed away peacefully in his 95th year at Kildonan Personal Care Centre, January 27, 2009. He is survived by his daughters, Sheelagh (Bob), Joyce (Stuart) and Mary; his grand-children, Sean (Tracy), Quinn (Jo), Shannon (Jamie), Megan (Joe), Kelly (JR), Chris (Erin) and Matt; great-grandchildren, Jessie, Taylor, Keesha, Logan, Morgan and Brooke and his sister Verla. He was predeceased by his first wife Violet; his second wife Edith; brother Ted; and sisters, Mina and Hazel. David was born in Durban, Manitoba, February 21, 1913, the eldest son of the five children of Joseph and Elsie Knight. He enjoyed a busy life working on the farm learning the values of hard work, helping your neighbour and how to fix or make anything work, a skill that earned him respect throughout his lifetime. David graduated high school from the four room school in Durban at age 17. After graduating, he left the farm for careers in logging, mining and whatever else he could do to make a living during the Dirty Thirties . While working at a gold mine in Geraldton, Ontario he was introduced to Violet by a mutual friend. It was love at first sight . They spent 45 years together raising their three daughters in Winnipeg before she passed away at their retirement home in Sechelt, BC in 1988. In 1989 he married Edith. They enjoyed nine wonderful years together before she passed on in 1998. In 1944 while working at a steel mill in Hamilton, Ontario, David enlisted in the Royal Canadian Airforce, serving his country Overseas as a navigator on a Lancaster bomber, the Phantom of the Ruhr , thus beginning an important chapter in his life. After basic training and then Navigator training in Quebec, he was deployed Overseas with the RCAF 550 squadron attached to the RAF 100 squadron. It was his confidence that there was a solution to every problem that culminated in his being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for displaying high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty in many operations against the enemy . After the war he settled back in Winnipeg on an eight acre parcel of land on Knowles Avenue where he grew crops, variously raised chickens and pigs while working for the CNR at the Symington Yards in the early years. When CN asked him to transfer to Calgary, he declined and went to work for the International Harvester Company. This began a career working on heavy duty vehicles and Shop Foreman, a job he retired from 26 years later in 1973. David was very active in the Royal Canadian Legion and was a founding member of the Henderson Branch 215, serving as their president for a number of years. On their 60th anniversary he was awarded the 60th Anniversary Legion Award In Recognition for Outstanding Service and Dedicated Performance . In 1973 David retired to Sechelt, BC where he embarked on a new career as a builder. His first task was to clear a lot on the side of the mountain and built his own home. Once completed, he worked for a building contractor for a few years and subsequently helped build a new St. Hilda's Anglican Church and a new Senior's Centre. He was very active in both the Senior Centre and St. Hilda's Church throughout his time in Sechelt. In 2004, he moved back to Winnipeg to be close to his family, living in assisted living at Sterling House for a short time and finally at Kildonan Personal Care Centre. The family would like to thank the staff at Kildonan Personal Care Centre for the dedicated and compassionate care they afforded David over the past three years, making his final days as pleasant and comfortable as possible. David loved to talk. He will be best remembered for his wry sense of humour and his many stories of life's adventures. Services will be held at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, 220 Helmsdale Avenue on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. followed by interment at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue at 4:00 p.m. Chapel Lawn 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 30, 2009