Rest in Peace, Brother Frank Knowles

Franklin Duke Knowles, father, grandfather, “great” and longtime member of the B7 Ward, passed peacefully into his heavenly home on Sunday, November 1 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

One of eight children born to Eugene Arthur Knowles, Sr. and Pearl Delores Duke in Salt Lake City, Frank attended West High School and the University of Utah before joining the Utah National Guard in 1960 as a member of the newly organized Special Forces.  

In 1961-63 he had “the wonderful opportunity” to serve a mission in South Africa, which in those days included South Africa and Northern and Southern Rhodesia and where he grew to love the countries and the amazing people.  

Upon his return, Frank married Sue Richins and became Dad to two – a daughter Jilynne and a son Shawn who both lived and raised their families in St. George, including Frank’s 6 “fantastic” grands and four “greats.”  Frank always said, “When I am gone, more than anything, I will miss my children and grandchildren more than anything else.”

 

At the age of 69, while writing his personal history, Frank was shocked to learn he had another brother.  Frank was heartbroken to have never had the chance to meet Deyon who was “missing in action or buried at sea” and presumed dead in November 1943 after serving on the USS Preston.  

 

Frank always had a strong and abiding testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  After his mission in South Africa in 1963 he served five and one-half years as Assistant Chaplain at Utah State Prison.  In various wards, he served as High Priest group leader, ward clerk, a counselor in a bishopric, three times as a member of stake high councils.  He also served as an ordinance worker in the Portland Oregon Temple.  In 2013, he was called to serve a second time in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission where he served as branch president.  

 

He was interred, with military honors, in the Tonaquint Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to the Church Missionary Department.

Your gentle wit will be missed,  Br. Knowles.  Rest in peace til  we meet again.