Obituary of William Knowlton

<!-- FH = Rose Lawn Funeral Home -->William P. Knowlton1919-2012William Pernell Payne Knowlton, 92, a resident of Carpenters Creek Community, passed away Friday morning Feb 3, 2012. Another part of the "Greatest Generation" has left us. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Geneva, in 2009. Left to remember and miss him are: his brother Harold; son Donald and daughter-in-law Ute; and his daughter Victoria and son-in-law Daniel. "Pappy" will also be remembered and missed by a multitude of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Bill Knowlton was a modest man of extremely strong character. It was late in his life when he shared his story of participation in the wave of soldiers to storm Omaha Beach and go on to liberate France. In the Army during WWII he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and the Purple Heart. He went on to serve in the Korean conflict and retire from the Air Force stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. Though a transplant from south Georgia he became a true Floridian when he moved his young family to Fort Walton Beach in 1946. Bill was a lifetime member of the Benevolent Order of the Elk in Okaloosa County where he and Geneva had many good times with friends laughing and dancing. No one should forget that on his auto license plate frame was the quote "support Florida wild life, throw a party". Bill Knowlton loved life. The funeral service will be at 11:00 am on Thursday February 9, 2012 at Rose Lawn Funeral Home with burial to follow in Barrancas National Cemetery. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service time in the funeral home.Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits