Faye Laverne Knodle

Faye Laverne Knodle, age 94, died June 20, 2015, of natural causes. He was born in Leaf River, Illinois on May 2, 1921 to Orville James Knodle and Vernie Mae Carr Knodle. He graduated from Freeport Memorial High School in 1939 and married Thelma Mae Bender on October 24, 1942. Together they had three children. They later divorced and he married Margaret (Peggy) Swayne in 1975. Faye served in WWII in the Army Infantry as part of the Allied Invasion fighting through France into Germany and Austria receiving a battlefield commission from General Patton. He retired from the military after 20 years of service in the Illinois National Guard at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his civilian career he worked for Kraft Foods and Fairbanks Morse in Freeport, IL, and moved from Freeport to head up manufacturing operations for Fairbanks in Beloit, WI, and Kansas City, KS. Fairbanks was eventually acquired by Colt Industries and he served as Executive Vice President and a member of the Board until 1971. He ended his civilian career in 1986 as President of Advanced Industries in Sioux City, IA, and became a SCORE volunteer counseling small manufacturing companies. He moved to Marietta, GA, after the death of his wife in 2003 to live with his daughter, Joyce Caldwell. Always a history buff he became a frequent visitor at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Visitor Center and through his research learned that his grandfather and two great uncles served during the Civil War. His home in Marietta was less than a mile away from where his grandfather fought at Cheatham Hill. When the name of the unknown soldier buried there was revealed, he was fascinated to learn that the soldier shared his mother’s maiden name and was from the same area of Illinois. He was a member of Health Place where he met to exercise and swim almost daily with a circle of friends and veterans until his health began to decline in December. He worked in the yard daily and was known to most people in the neighborhood by name or sight. He was frequently seen resting on the porch swing after a day’s work and always had a “story for ya” whenever you spoke to him. He attended North Metro Church in Marietta, GA. During the last 10 years of his life, he spent a good bit of time travelling back to his hometown of Freeport, IL to visit his brothers, nieces and nephews, and his companion, Jeannette Miller who predeceased him in September. While there he attended Park Hills Evangelical Free Church. He was predeceased by sons Laverne Leland Knodle (surviving wife, Cheryl) and Billy Eugene Knodle (surviving wife Barbara). He is survived by his daughter Joyce Knodle Caldwell (deceased spouse, Mark) of Marietta, GA, grandsons, James F. Knodle and Matthew L. Knodle both of West Lafayette, IN and Christopher L. Knodle (wife Gina), and great grandson, William Colt Knodle of Fayetteville, AR, and a granddaughter, Jacqueline A. Knodle Kern (spouse Danny) of Clermont, FL. He was predeceased by his parents and 8 siblings and is survived by 2 brothers, Robert Knodle (wife Priscilla) and Orville Knodle (wife Joanne) of Freeport, IL and a sister, Darlene Knodle Snyder (deceased spouse Lester) of Overland Park, Kansas. He loved his country and his family and served them both well. For this he was well loved and well respected. A graveside service is planned for a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Raymond James FBO F. L. Knodle Family Memorial Scholarship Fund (Raymond James Financial Services, 1225 Johnson Ferry Rd, Suite 880, Marietta, GA 30068). Friends and family may gather to celebrate his life on Sunday, June 28 between the hours of 4 and 7 at the home of Joyce Caldwell. A gathering will be held in Freeport, IL, at a later date.

Faye Laverne Knodle

May 21, 1921 - June 20, 2015