William Oscar Knight

Funeral services for William Oscar “Bill” Knight, 79, will be held at 2:30 P.M., Thursday, August 4, in the chapel of Baker Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Sand Hill Baptist Church Cemetery with family only attending. Mr. Jackie Knight will officiate. Mr. Knight died Tuesday, August 2, 2011, in Columbia, S.C. Born in Kershaw, he was the son of the late Ernest Carl and Mary Cauthen Knight. He was married to the late Elsya Pate Knight. Mr. Knight retired from the U.S. Air Force attaining the rank of Tech Sgt. He served with honor and was a highly decorated medic in the Korean Conflict. Mr. Knight was a survivor of the Chosin Reservoir and a member of the Chosin Few. Bill served as a Air Force recruiter, Air Force photographer and eventually became a PA until his retirement in 1971. Mr. Knight also served as a State and Federal property officer with the State of S.C. office of the Governor until retirement. He was a shriner with the Omar Temple in Mt. Pleasant and a Mason with Dunean Lodge # 359 in Greenville. Bill did not meet a stranger, having an incredible gift of gab. He was an avid farmer. He also loved to show off his crops and share his harvest with many of his friends. Surviving are 3 sons; Ernest C. “Chuck” Knight and his wife Christy of Chapin, Christopher W. “Chris” Knight and his wife Barbara of Martinsville, Va., Jonathan P. “Jon” Knight and his wife Pam of Kershaw and a daughter; Karla K. Deese and her husband Anthony of Kershaw, 4 grandchildren; Amanda Knight, Daniel (Holly) Knight, Bryan Knight and Devin Knight. He was preceded in death by a brother; Thomas Knight and a sister; Grace Stefanov. The family will receive friends, Thursday, August 4, from 1:00 to 2:30 prior to the service at the funeral home and other times at their respective residences. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children- Greenville (Transportation Fund), 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL., 33607 or Disabled American Veterans, 823 S. Main Street, Lancaster, S.C. 29720.