MySource:Ktaustin2/Obituary of Charles Knapp

Charles L. Knapp Jr. Charles L. "Charlie" Knapp Jr., 86, of Middlesex Township, formerly of Hemet, Calif., died Monday morning, Jan. 19, at his home. Born in Kansas City, Mo., July 4, 1922, he was the son of the late Charles L. and Elizabeth Glowczwskie Knapp Sr. In 1940, he was a graduate of the Novitiate class of the DeLaSalle Academy in Kansas City. He then entered the Order of the Christian Brothers in Winona, Minn., as "Brother Leopold Francis." He graduated in 1944 from St. Mary College with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics. He left religious life and enlisted in the Navy in August 1947. During his 20-year career, he served in the Korean War. As master chief petty officer, he served as an instructor in the Naval Guided Missile School. He was instrumental in organizing a maintenance training course and in the preparation of the technical manual for the MKII MOD 2 SINS. He served on the Gold Crew of the USS Sam Rayburn SSBN 635 and was COB on the Gold Crew of the USS Mariano G. Vallejo SSBN 658. Retiring from the Navy in January 1968, he taught public school for a while before he was hired as a master electrician by Sperry Rand, working on nuclear submarines. His love and devotion to God and the Catholic Church led him to serve in a variety of ministries including being a Eucharistic Minister and a CCD teacher. He was at heart a teacher, whether it was teaching the inertial navigation subsystem of a ballistic missile submarine or helping a student solve a complex calculus problem or teaching about the fruits of the Holy Spirit. He was a member of Holy Sepulcher Roman Catholic Church in Glade Mills. Surviving are a son, Charles L. Knapp III in Baltimore, Md.; two daughters, Theresa Varga and her husband, Ray, of Middlesex Township and Susan Knapp of Glen Burnie, Md.; a stepson, Peter Liberti of Hemet, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Vicki Liberti in Hemet, Calif.; a daughter-in-law, Delphina Knapp; a brother, William Knapp in Kansas; and his grandchildren, Francis "Frank" Anthony, and Devin and Marissa Knapp. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Phyllis Harbeck Knapp; his second wife, Theresa Ann Sochinski Knapp; his son, Joseph Knapp; a brother, Francis Knapp; and three sisters, Elizabeth "Libby" Schulte, Margaret "Peggy" Lynch and Julia Spear. KNAPP - There are no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial for Charles L. "Charlie" Knapp Jr., who died Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, will be celebrated later. Memorials donations may be sent to the Holy Sepulcher Church Building Fund, 1304 E. Cruikshank Road, Butler, PA 16002. Arrangements are being handled by the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home, Mars, and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.