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WINFIELD L. KNIGHT

BEAVER, Okla. - Winfield "Windy" L. KNIGHT, 81, died Wednesday, December 18, 2002.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Beaver United Methodist Church with John Breon, pastor, and Dan Carter officiating. Arrangements are by Clark Funeral Service.

Mr. KNIGHT was born September 18, 1921, in Beaver County to George Lewis and Goldie Burk KNIGHT. Growing up on the family farm, Windy graduated from Beaver High School in 1941. Following graduation he entered the armed services, serving as an army paratrooper in World War II. He parachuted with the 508th Battalion of the 82nd Airborne into Normandy on D-Day and received a Purple Heart for a broken leg.

Following the war, Windy returned to Beaver County to marry Claudine COTHRAN on August 11, 1946, in Beaver United Methodist Church. In a much varied career Windy was a truck driver, farmer, rancher and road construction worker, finally retiring as a longtime employee of the Bureau of Mines, Amarillo Helium Operations.

Windy was a virtual jack-of-all-trades and master of many. He was a good and honest husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Church for more than 40 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Euna Faye, Wanda and Pauline; and two brothers, Darwin and Glen.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Diane BIM and husband, Brian, of Amarillo, Texas, and Denise CARTER and husband, Dan, of Morton, Texas; a son, Roger KNIGHT and wife, Kathy, of Amarillo; six grandchildren, Brett BIM, Mandi GARCIA, Kari BRACE, Maggi PERKINS, Kacy BROWN and Cade CARTER; and a great-granddaughter.

The family suggests memorials be to Beaver United Methodist Church; or a favorite charity.

(Published in The Amarillo Globe-News (TX), December 20, 2002.)

 
(courtesy of Donna Barnes)

Grave markers for Winfield L. Knight in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Balko (Beaver county), Oklahoma.

Winfield enlisted in the Army at Oklahoma City, OK on 1 October 1942.

On 29 October 1942 Pvt Knight was transferred from the Ft Sill, OK Reception Center to Company B, 508th PIR at Camp Blanding , FL.

Pvt Knight was promoted to Pfc on 5 January 1943 and appointed to the grade of Corporal on 24 April 1943.  Cpl Knight was promoted to Sgt on 10 November 1943.

Sgt Knight was listed as seriously injured in action as of 14 June 44 and was transferred to the 74th General  Hospital.  On 27 September 1944 he to an unknown hospital and did not return to the regiment.  Based on an entry in his obituary, at left, he suffered a badly broken leg.

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