John Franklin Knowles, many talents, hobbies
John “Jack” Franklin Knowles, 80, of Seaford, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, surrounded by his family at the home that he and his father built in Woodland. It was the only place he ever wanted to be. He was born Jan. 8, 1942, in Lewes, son of the late Henry L. Knowles Jr. and Margaret V. (Hastings) Knowles.
A lifelong Seaford resident, Jack was a 1960 graduate of Seaford High School. He married the love of his life, Carolyn Collins, June 23, 1962, in Salisbury, Md. They would spend 60 wonderful years together raising a beautiful family and creating precious memories. He enjoyed a career with DuPont in Seaford for more than 35 years as a section engineer in staple polymer. It was a career that was both challenging and fulfilling.
He was a man who had many talents and hobbies. He was known as a jack of all trades, and those who knew him would attest that if he couldn't fix it, it wasn’t worth fixing at all. At the age of 5, Jack started shad fishing with his grandfather and that became his lifelong passion. In 2006, he was named DNREC Volunteer of the Year for his work repopulating the shad population in the Nanticoke. He served as a weighmaster of striped bass for the State of Delaware. He was a collector of all things about the Nanticoke River, Woodland, DuPont and his own family. He collected these in his personal museum called Days Gone By. It was open for anyone to come to see. His faith was a pillar in his life, and he served in various positions at Woodland Methodist church, which he attended all his life. Each year he participated in Walk MS, a fundraising event for those afflicted with MS, in honor of his daughter, Kelly. His devotion to his family took precedence above all. Those who knew him would say still waters run deep. He was a gentle, soft-spoken man who loved his family, and to know him was to love him. Jack was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune to know him.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Knowles; his daughters, Kelly Griffith (Timothy Scott), and Kim Cook and her husband Rich Cook; his grandchildren, Katey Davidson and husband Jay Davidson, Christopher Asselin, Kristian Vojtko and her husband Cody Vojtko, and Alexa Griffith (Robert BeCraft); and his great-grandchildren; Avery, Jay Wyatt and Josey Davidson.
Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 30, at Woodland United Methodist Church, 5123 Woodland Church Road, Seaford, where friends may call beginning at 1 p.m. Interment will follow the services at 3 p.m., at Woodland United Methodist Cemetery. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic social distancing protocols, wearing masks is strongly encouraged for everyone participating in the service.
Jack’s family would like to thank the staff at Vitas Hospice for their loving and compassionate care during his illness.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Jack’s memory to Woodland United Methodist Church, 5123 Woodland Church Road, Seaford, DE 19973.
Visit Jack’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at watsonyatesfuneralhome.com.
