NORWICH – Richard Whitmore Knapp of Norwich, passed away on Friday, Dec. 1, 2006 at Chenango Memorial Hospital.
The oldest son of Ellsworth and Mary (Molly) Baker Knapp, he was born June 4, 1914 at the family farmstead on the Earlville-Poolville Road. After finishing grade school in Poolville, he graduated from the Earlville Central School in 1932. He received a B.S. in physics from Colgate University in 1936 and then found work in Glens Falls. There, he met Shirley A. Howard and they were married on June 25, 1938. He returned to the Earlville area in 1943 as a physics instructor for the U.S. Navy Flight Preparatory School at Colgate University. After the war, he joined the faculty at Morris Central School where he taught high school math and science classes. Retiring in January 1971, he returned to the family farm where he enjoyed gardening and photography and he also worked as a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He moved to the Madison Lane Apartments in Hamilton in 1986 and then to The Chenango Valley Home in Norwich in 2003.
Besides his wife of 68 years, he is survived by a sister, Janet Phillips, and her husband Harry of Bradenton, Fla., a son, Thomas, and his wife Suzanne of Norwich, three daughters: Judy Reed, and her husband John of Bowden, Ga., Margaret McCrea, and her husband Peter of Thomaston, Me., and Barbara Weaver, and her companion Terry Duguay of Leominster, Ma., seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two brothers, Carlton and Hilland (Bill).
A graveside service and burial will be held in the spring at the Poolville Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are in the care of the Paul Funeral Home of Madison.
The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the staff of The Chenango Valley Home for its special and loving care and to the Hospice staff for its warm and caring attention.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes Street, Norwich, NY 13815 or to your favorite charity.