William Clifton "Bill" Knodle

Cremation arrangements for Mr. William “Bill” Clifton Knodle, 87, of Kilgore, Texas are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore. Mr. Knodle passed away on Saturday, November 7, 2020 in Kilgore, Texas.
Bill was born on March 10, 1933 in Richmond, Indiana to the late Clifton Knodle and Elizabeth McCormick Knodle. After graduating from high school, Bill studied pre-pharmacy before transferring to the US Naval Academy. Bill graduated with the class of 1957. Post graduate work includes a Master of Science (MS) in Oceanography/Metrology from the Naval Post Graduate School, and a MS in Administration Management of National Resources from George Washington University. Bill served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years, retiring with the rank of Commander on June 30, 1978. Bill is a veteran of the Vietnam War.
Bill married the love of his life, Kathryn Mae Luce, “Katie” on December 20, 1958 in Painted Post, New York. Bill and Katie were the proud parents of two daughters, Amy Louise and Lisa Jane.
Bill was active in many in various organizations including the American Legion, VFW, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, the Military Officers’ Association, Friends of the Georgetown Symphony Society (FOGGS) and Senior University in Georgetown. Bill held offices as the Post Commander and historian at the American Legion Post 174.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Kathryn Luce Knodle, his father, mother and brother, Robert Knodle.
Survivors include the following; daughters, Amy L. FitzGerald and her husband, Michael P. FitzGerald, Sr. of Kilgore, Texas and Lisa J. Knodle-Bragiel and her husband Carl Knodle-Bragiel of Amity, Oregon; granddaughter, Erin Colleen FitzGerald of Kilgore, Texas; great-granddaughter, Brinley Rae Rosen of Kilgore, Texas; brother and sister-in-law, Ed and Jan Knodle of Port Ludlow, Washington; sister Elizabeth Knodle and brother Clifton Knodle of Kettering, Ohio; brother-in-law and sister, Laurie Fausett and Rosemary Knodle Fausett of Sacramento, California.
The family requests that memorials be made in Bill’s name to: The Nest, which is GISD’s after-school haven for homeless students, AKA “The Georgetown Project”, Georgetown Texas; San Gabriel Presbyterian Church of Georgetown Music Department, Georgetown Texas; or Disabled American Veterans (DAV).