Albert James McKnight

Albert James “Jimmy” McKnight, resident of the Arlington Community, US Navy Veteran and associated with the communications business before his retirement died Thursday evening, June 27, 2012 at the Gallaway Health Care Center where he had been a resident for three months. He was 83 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Services of Remembrance with Military Honors for Mr. McKnight were conducted at 2 P.M. Sunday, July 1, 2012 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Father Stephen Kenny, pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, officiating. Interment followed in the Burrow Cemetery in Fayette County near Arlington. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — West Chapel at Oakland.

A native of Hinsdale, Illinois, Mr. McKnight was born August 6, 1928. He was preceded in death by his parents, Odell Lee McKnight and Martha Ann Juarszek McKnight. He received his education in the Illinois Public School System. He served in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1952 and was married December 25, 1947 to the former Joan Arlette McFarlane, a native of Illinois, who survives.

Mr. McKnight was employed by the Western Electric Communications in earlier years and retired as a senior test board employee of the AT&T Corporation in 1982. He was a former resident of the Bartlett and Braden Communities before moving to the Arlington area and had been a resident of Fayette County for the past 30 years. Mr. McKnight was a Christian and had been a member of Catholic and Methodist churches throughout his life.

He was a “gentleman” farmer who enjoyed his rural home in Fayette County. He will be remembered as an avid storyteller and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who enjoyed being surrounded by his family.

In addition to his wife of 64½ years, Mr. McKnight is survived by three daughters, Susan Baldridge of Arlington, Barbara May (John) of Arlington, Mary Parker of Covington; two brothers, Lee Odell McKnight of Chicago, IL, Frances McKnight of Arlington; eleven grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Arthur Baldridge, Bobby Berry, Tylor Green, William Green, John May, Fran McKnight and Bill Pinner. Honorary casketbearers were Johnathan Bishop, Mack Green, Steve Hawking and Bo Newcomb.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Fayette County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, 402 Midland Street, Somerville, TN 38068 or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148.