Robert "Bob" Knapp '65

Robert “Bob” Knapp, age 64, of Johnson City, TN, passed away at Duke Medical Center Hospital on Saturday, September 29, 2012, after a lengthy illness.  Bob was born in Dallas, TX, on November 13, 1947, and grew up in the US and France.  He attended Hargrave Military Academy and Hampden-Sydney College, graduating with a BS in Biological Sciences in 1969.  He was on Active Duty with the United States Navy, from 1969 until 1978, and was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War.  He served from 1978 through 1983 in the US Naval Reserves and retired from the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  In 1978 he became a commercial pilot for US Airways where he worked until his retirement in 2008 as a Captain Line pilot on the Airbus 333.  Following retirement from US Airways he became certified as a real estate appraiser and worked at William A Miller and Co until his illness.

He is survived by his wife, Terri Treadway Knapp; his parents, Mr and Mrs Henry J H Cooke of Virginia Beach;  two brothers, Randy Knapp (wife Liz) of Warm Springs, VA, and Fred Cooke of Durham, NC, a sister Priscilla Cooke St. Claire (husband Bob) of Seattle, WA; lifelong friend Dick Morgan of Charlottesville, VA; three children: Bill Knapp of Virginia Beach, VA, Aimee Knapp Thibodeaux (husband Chris), and Robyn Knapp Hofheimer (husband Brian) of Virginia Beach, VA; seven grandchildren:  Joshua, Robbie, Jakobe, Poe, Auryn, Somae, and Webb; two sisters-in-law:  Judy Fleenor (husband Buck) and Robin Kinley of Jonesborough; and one brother-in-law, Dwight Treadway (wife Cindy) of Elizabethton, along with several nieces and nephews.  Bob was preceded in death by his father, William Marshall Knapp, and one brother, Henry Jonathan Cooke.

Bob was truly a Renaissance man, enjoying hunting, fishing, painting, travel, music, literature, flowers, food, wine, and lively discussion.  He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends all over the world.

Receiving of friends will be held at Central Baptist Church, Johnson City, from 4:30 to 7 PM on Thursday, October 4, 2012, with a Celebration of Life immediately following.  Interment will be at Mountain Home V A Cemetery, Johnson City, at 1 PM, Friday, October 4, 2012.  The funeral procession will leave Tetrick Funeral Home, 3001 Peoples Street, Johnson City, TN, at 12:30 PM.  Pall bearers are Mike Bauguess, Jim Godfrey, Tom Jessee, Bill Miller, Dick Morgan, Mike Mould, John Speropulos, and Dwight Treadway.

Bob loved flowers, but if you would prefer to make a memorial gift instead, he was an avid supporter of Girls Inc, Johnson City, and Young Life of Upper East Tennessee.