Richard Edward Knights

Our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Richard E. Knights, 89, passed away Sunday, March 14, 2010, at his home. He was a strong man who taught us all the value of hard work, integrity and family. Richard showed an incredible amount of bravery and fortitude from his humble beginnings and throughout his life. Born in Idaho Springs, Colorado, he was a child of the Colorado high country and as a Depression era youth worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He proudly served our country in the armed forces during WWII as a member of the 1st Infantry and was awarded the Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters. He took pride in his work as a miner, chuck tender on the Whitney Point Dam project, soldier and manager of many local grocery stores. He was predeceased by his sisters, Wave, Hazel and Blanche; and nephews, Gene Dyrland and Wesley Howard. Richard is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Frances Wisniski Knights; children, Barbara and Bob Gardner, Kirkwood, Kathleen and Tim O'Hearn, Watkins Glen, and Nancy and Michael Balanda, Binghamton. He leaves behind ten treasured grandchildren, Michele Gibson, Kirkwood, Lisa Henke, Peyton, CO, Daniel Balanda, Binghamton, Keith Kaminsky, Miami, FL, Molly Balanda, Binghamton, Andrew Kaminsky, Whitney Point, Sarah Householder, Winchester, VA, Erin Cole, Greene, Caitlin O'Hearn, Nantucket, MA, and Brieanne O'Hearn, Albany; 12 great-grandchildren, Ashley, Ryan, Paul, Talor, Anna, Sarah, Jacob, Jake, Lucas, Giselle, Aidan and Gianna; sisters-in-law, Genevieve Fedorowicz, Binghamton, Elizabeth Roche, Johnson City, Katherine Gasbarra, Endicott. and Louise Wisniski, Vestal; nephews, Charles Howard, Arvada, CO, David Howard, Evergreen, CO, and Richard Dyrland, Littleton, CO; niece, Carole Pettit, Denver, CO, Richard's family would like to express their gratitude for the loving care provided by Dr. Ramanajan and the staff of the Park Avenue Dialysis Unit. Funeral services will begin at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, March 18, 2010, at the DeMunn Funeral Home, 36 Conklin Avenue, Binghamton and will continued at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at Saints John and Andrew RC Church, 1263 Vestal Avenue, Binghamton with the Reverend Christopher J. Celentano officiating. Interment will be at a later date in Saint Patrick's Cemetery, Whitney Point. Family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday, March 17, 2010, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions in Richard's name may be made to the UHS Foundation, Dialysis Unit, 10-42 Mitchell Avenue, Binghamton, NY 13903; and the Broome County Humane Society, 2 Jackson Street, Binghamton, NY 13903. To forward expressions of sympathy, to create or view video tributes please visit www.demunnfh.com.