August 30, 1925 – August 30, 2024
Randell John Knight, 99, passed away on the evening of Thursday, August 30, 2024, at his residence, near Huron.
Randell was born on August 30, 1925 to John T. and Maude V. (Scarlett) Knight, at their residence near West Baden Springs, Indiana. He married Rosabelle Ann Mundy on October 29, 1954 and she survives.
Raised during the Great Depression, Randell often noted, “we were poor, but so was almost everyone else,” and “we had good neighbors who helped each other.” His father passed away in 1936, leaving his widowed mother and older brothers to provide for a family of four boys and two girls (a third girl, Avis, died at a very young age). As a teen, Randell found employment at the French Lick Springs Hotel, and even spent a summer working at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
At the height of World War II, Randell enlisted into the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, requiring his mother to sign her approval. Randell later noted that “this had to be the hardest thing she ever did, as she already had three sons in the service, but she knew I would go anyway in just another month when I turned 18.” He served in the war from September 28, 1943, until April 1, 1946.
After the war, Randell found employment with the Monon Railroad as a lineman. In 1950, when the Korean Conflict began, he re-enlisted in the U.S. Navy for another 4 years, from September 11, 1950, until July 12, 1954. While back home on leave, Randell spied the girl of his dreams. Yes, he literally spied on her from a short distance by pretending to read a newspaper and peeking through a hole he had conveniently created. Randell married Rosabelle Ann Mundy on October 29, 1954 and they were just shy of 70 years together.
Soon after, he and a friend decided to start a body shop together and moved along with their wives to Yakama, Washington. This business failed, and so back to Indiana they came where Randell started working at Carpenter Body Works Inc. in Mitchell. He and Rosabelle moved into a rented home in Huron, Indiana and on May 4, 1957, their first child, Rex, was born. Later, the family acquired some nearby land where Randell built a home. In 1964, Randell hired on at Crane Naval Weapon Support Center, where he transitioned from rebuilding various naval guns, to becoming leading man, to an inspector, retiring in 1978. In 1967, Randell and Rosabelle adopted a daughter, Cathy, expanding the household to four.
Randell enjoyed the outdoors, cutting wood, traveling (making sure the family always had a great summer vacation, even if it required borrowing the funds to do so) and playing his mandolin. He enjoyed people, loved his family, and many of his friends, most of whom he outlived.
Randell was very active in the reunions of the two ships he served on in the Navy, the USS LANG (DD399) and the USS HECTOR (AR7). He was a member of the Orleans Warren Bock American Legion Post 69, in Orleans, Indiana. Randell was an active member of the Huron Church of God, until his disabilities kept him confined to his residence near Huron.
Randell loved the Lord, read his Bible every day until his failing eyesight made reading impossible. He regularly conversed in prayer to Jesus, always more concerned with the needs of others than for himself. He was a loving husband, father, and friend to a long list of acquaintances.
Randell passed away with family at his side. His wish and prayer had been to pass away at home. On his 99th birthday, God gifted him not only his wish, but an eternity in Heaven, where he has many family members and friends welcoming him this day.
Surviving are his wife, Rosabelle Knight of Mitchell; children, Rex (Linda) Knight of Mitchell, and Cathy (Johnny) White of Spencer; grandchildren, Shane (Courtney) Knight of Orleans, Shauna (Kyle) Wilkinson of Evansville, Joseph Toliver of Spencer, and Alicia Toliver of Jasonville; great-grandchildren, Hudson Wilkinson, Wyatt Wilkinson, Josh Turley, Baily Smith, Madabelle Toliver, Riley Reed, and Ashely Reed.
His parents; and siblings, Francis Knight, Clarence Knight, Amel Knight, Henry Knight, Sherman Knight, Avis Knight, Ruth Woolsey, and Audra Deel, preceded him in death.
Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 5th, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with Minister John Moffatt officiating. Burial will be in Huron Cemetery with military rites accorded by Orleans Warren Bock American Legion Post 69. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the service on Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions can be made in Randell’s memory to L.I.F.E. Food Pantry
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.chastainfuneralhome.com.
