Alan T. Knight Jr.'s Obituary
Alan T. Knight, Jr., aka “Punk”, 90, passed away suddenly on April 21, 2025. He was a master craftsman, the ultimate caregiver, and someone who brought joy and humor to every occasion. His family was the highlight of his life.
Life Full of Love
Punk was the beloved husband, caretaker and “saint” to his “angel” Ginny (Virginia P. Knight). They were married for 55 years before Ginny was called home. For nearly 45 of those years, Punk was her dedicated caregiver and daily cheerleader as she progressed to life in a wheelchair at a young age. When it appeared that God was calling her home, despite the enormous physical challenges of caring for someone paralyzed from the waist down, he prayed and asked God to give her another five years. Even though that prayer wasn’t answered, he just loved her that much and considered caring for her his life’s greatest purpose. He was the dedicated father of Dan (Judy) Knight of Voorhees, NJ and Wendy (Michael) Kuremsky of Cincinnati, OH. He was so proud of his kids and took every effort to share stories of their triumphs and pursuits with anyone who might listen. He treasured time with his grandchildren and crafted wooden toys and furniture for them throughout their lives. Stories of the antics of his youth and funny tales of life as a senior citizen will bring them joy throughout the rest of their days. They will have memories to cherish from times at Sinking Dock, the Rehoboth home and property that he cared for so well until his mid 80’s. Whipping them around on tubes while driving the boat on Herring Creek, tractor rides in the fields, and nights on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach are memories treasured by Michael (Zoe) Knight, Tanner Kuremsky, Caroline (Jonah) Gardner, and Caitlin (Mark) Perry. ‘Grandpa Punk’ was also loved and adored by so many of his kids’ and grandkids’ friends as he enjoyed sharing Sinking Dock with anyone who could find their way there. Possibly the greatest joy in his life recently was the addition of his first two Great Granddaughters, Emerson Gardner and Virginia “Ginny” May Perry. If you were anywhere near his apartment, you would be asked to watch a digital slideshow on his Aura frame!
Life Filled with Purpose
Punk was born in Claymont, Delaware on January 10, 1935 and grew up in Wallingford, PA. He was the only child born to the late Alan T. Knight, Sr. and Virginia May Knight. He liked to share that he got his pilot’s license before being able to get his driver’s license. His love for aviation started as a child building model planes and boats and grew into a full fledged hobby of building and flying Radio Controlled Model Airplanes.
Punk attended the University of Delaware, made the greatest of friends in the ATO fraternity, met Ginny and ultimately finished his Mechanical Engineering degree at Drexel University - as he would tell us, “I made the Dean’s list at U of D…just the wrong one!”. He had early internships building models of oil refineries at Catalytic Inc, part of Sun Oil Co. Shortly after getting married, he and Ginny moved to Roswell, New Mexico where he worked on building missile silos for the defense/military. During his time there, they brought in the Atlas missile to practice loading and dropping it into a silo with an accuracy margin of +/- 1/8”. While still working for Catalytic, Inc. he also lived in Gallopolis, OH, Sewickley, PA and West Deptford, NJ overseeing work at a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Plant, the Duquesne Nuclear Power Plant, and various refineries as a manager. At around the age of 40, Punk decided that he wanted to be able to be more available to Ginny and the kids, to be able to schedule his own time, and to not have to relocate every several years. Along with a good friend, they quit the corporate life and started Acorn Builders, because as he said “we’re just a couple of nuts giving up good salaries and benefits for no guarantee”. They went on to remodel homes throughout south Jersey and eventually he began A.T. Knight Builders and continued both in remodeling homes as well as building some terrific homes for clients of which we were all so proud. Because of this sacrifice, he was able to be more involved in Ginny’s care, and it enabled him to take off three weeks every summer to take us all to Maine. We have amazing memories of Boothbay Harbor and Skowhegan through the years because he prioritized us over a paycheck and corporate accolades.
Life Well-Lived
Punk and Ginny retired from West Deptford, NJ to Lewes, DE and spent the last 14 years living at The Moorings (formerly Cadbury). Punk loved the staff at the Moorings and considered them as close friends as much as any other resident. After Mom’s death in 2016, and a stroke in 2018, which took his ability to drive, to craft, to read, and most things requiring vision, he felt he needed a new purpose. He called to let us know one day that he had decided on his new purpose and it would be “to make someone laugh every day as laughter is a mini vacation”. Punk spent most of his days watching college football (Go Blue Hens), watching NFL football (Go Birds!) and listening to his Talking Books (provided by Talking Books via Delaware Library Access). Last summer he “read” the book Imagine Heaven by John Burke and it changed his views on faith in God and the promise of eternity. We are so grateful that he made a decision, at the age of 89, that confirms to us we will see him in heaven. What a blessing and comfort that is to us today.
Arrangements
Because Punk was not much for formality, we will hold a Memorial honoring his life for family and friends on Saturday, August 23 at Sinking Dock, his beloved property in Rehoboth. Details to follow.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to:
The Talking Books Program through the Library of Congress
https://www.loc.gov/nls/who-we-are/donate/
Academy of Model Aeronautics (please choose the AMA Programs Fund for donation)
https://www.modelaircraft.org/donate
The Autoimmune Association
https://autoimmune.org/
Please sign the virtual guestbook on the tribute wall.
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