Leland Knowles

Leland H. Knowles
Age 93, died July 1, 2012 at Seneca View Nursing Home, Montour Falls, NY. Leland was born in Thurston, NY on March 3, 1919, the son of Harry and Mina Knowles. He had been a resident of Hobe Sound, FL and Valois, NY; moving to Valois in 1983 from Vestal, NY, where he had a contracting business for 52 years. Leland was patriotic, a man who personified “The Greatest Generation.” During WWII, he served in the Army-Air Force as a tail-gunner on a B-29 Bomber, and flew 19 missions. He insisted on Fourth of July celebrations every year because he felt lucky to be an American. Prior to his retirement, he owned and operated Lee Knowles, Inc. for 52 years. He served as president of the Southern Tier Home Builders Assoc. and was a member of several organizations, including, West Corners Firemen, Mechanics Club of Montour Falls, Elks of Stuart, FL, Red Men of Watkins Glen, V.F.W. of Hobe Sound, FL, 58th Bomb Wing Reunions, Endicott Rotary Club, Masonic Lodge and Odd Fellows of Union, NY, and American Legion Post 1700 of West Endicott, NY. He enjoyed sailing, boating and fishing at his favorite place, Seneca Lake. He also enjoyed carving wooden birds and inventing things. He is survived by his wife, Margaret (Evans) Knowles of 73 years; daughters, Fay (Patrick) Donovan, of Bluffton, SC, and Dona Monahan of Bristol, CT; grandchildren, Mark (Muriel) Donovan of Boynton Beach, FL (and step-great-grandson, Eric (Sherri) Ponsati and great-great granddaughter Madison of Oahu, Hawaii), Scott(Lisa) Donovan (and great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Bleu) of Charlotte, NC, Amy(Patrick) Blankenship (and great-grandson, Donovan) of Hilton Head, NC; brothers, Ernest Knowles of Painted Post, Harry Knowles of Spartanburg, SC, Stanley Knowles of Hardy, VA; and sister, and Mary Personius of Watkins Glen. The family will receive friends and family at the Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home, 212 E. 4th St., Watkins Glen, on Friday, July 6, 2012 from 6-8pm. The funeral service will be held Saturday at 3:00pm at the Hector Presbyterian Church, followed by burial in Valois at Seneca Union Cemetery. You may express condolences to the family online in "Obituaries" at www.Royce-Chedzoy.com.