Gwendoline Mae McKnight, 101, passed away peacefully Saturday
evening, May 15, 2010, at her daughter and son-in-law's home in
Moretown. Born in Brookville, Kansas, on December 2, 1908, the fourth
oldest of 10 children, she grew up on the family farm a few miles from
Brookville in the Smoky Hills region of Kansas.
Gwen attended grammar school at a one-room schoolhouse several miles
from the farm. She graduated from Brookville High School in 1928 and was
voted Most Popular Girl by her classmates.
As a young girl Gwen traveled by horse and buggy into town for piano
lessons. She enjoyed playing piano, especially hymns, well into her
later years.
On June 30, 1929, she married her high school sweetheart, Vernon
McKnight, who had been born in Brookville the day after her on December
3, 1908. They were married for 52 years, until Vernon's passing in 1981.
Gwen was also predeceased by a stillborn daughter; all nine of her
brothers and sisters; and her devoted dachshund, "Benji."
Gwen spent the early years of her marriage being a homemaker and
full-time mom and helping her husband run several fabric stores in
central Kansas. They later moved to North Carolina and she worked in a
large department store where she became a divisional manager in charge
of several departments. She retired in 1976 and she and Vernon moved
back to Kansas.
She is survived by her son, Dennis McKnight and his wife Sharon of
Lewisville, North Carolina; her daughter Dianne McKnight-Warren and her
husband Andrew Warren of Moretown; and many nieces and nephews.
Gwen will be buried in Lyons, Kansas, next to her beloved husband
Vernon.
The family wishes to thank all the caregivers who gave Gwen wonderful
care and showed her many kindnesses during her final months of declining
health in Vermont. For those who wish, memorial gifts would be
appreciated to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger
Road, Barre, VT 05641 (www.cvhhh.org). To send online condolences please
visit www.perkinsparker.com. The Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in
Waterbury is assisting the family with local arrangements.
