Benny Morgan Knowles passed away Jan. 30, 2003 in Redding. He
was 74 years old.
Benny Morgan Knowles passed away Jan. 30, 2003 in Redding. He was 74 years old.
Benny was born on March 8, 1928 in Baird, Texas. At the age of 2, he and his parents Morgan and Argie Knowles moved to the Santa Clara Valley where his father worked at the oil wells on the old Sargent Ranch south of Gilroy.
Benny attended school in Gilroy and two years of college in Salinas. After college he began working for Pacific Bell, until he entered the Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany.
In 1953 after returning from the Army, he married the former Ida Vogel of Gilroy. They made their home in Menlo Park before purchasing their first home and moving to Sunnyvale where they lived for 34 years. Benny continued to work for Pacific Bell until his retirement.
Benny was an avid outdoorsman who loved camping, hunting and fishing. After retirement he and his wife Ida relocated to the Red Bluff area where they purchased a small ranch. This is where he realized his dream of owning his own open space where he could raise a few animals.
He is survived by his wife of 49 and a half years, Ida Knowles, sister Dawn Twight of Watsonville, daughter Deborah Simmons and son-in-law Russell Simmons; son Patrick Knowles and daughter-in-law Kathy Knowles; granddaughter Nicole Knowles; grandsons Matthew Simmons, of Gilroy and Sean Simmons of Staten Island, N.Y.; great-granddaughters Makenna Simmons and Madison Reggiani; brother-in-law Albert Vogel and sister-in-law Rosie Vogel; brother-in-law Edward Vogel and sister-in-law Joanne Vogel; brother-in-law William Vogel and sister-in-law Louise Vogel; brother-in-law Joseph Vogel and sister-in-law Mona Vogel; brother-in-law Werner Vogel; sister-in-law Julia Gimenez; brother-in-law Peter Gimenez, of Gilroy; sister-in-law Elizabeth Cheadle and brother-in-law Robert Cheadle of Gerber; and many nieces and nephews.
His parents Morgan and Argie Knowles of Sacramento and brother-in-law Clem Twight of San Jose, precede him in death.
A memorial service was held on Feb. 3 in Red Bluff.
The family would like to thank all that have given their support and caring during this most difficult time.
