Norman Rex Knapton

Norman Rex Knapton was born on June 11, 1936, in Trenton, Nebraska.  His parents were Glen Robert & Gladys Ruth Knapton.   He passed away on September 26, 2017, at the Yuma Hospital after a lingering illness. 

Not long after Norman’s graduation from the high school in Eckley, Colorado, he joined the US Army.  He served in Germany and was honorably discharged.

            Norman married Joan Maude Wheeler on August 26, 1954, in Wray, Colorado.  To them was born William Randall (better known as Randy).   He passed away on April 15, 2005.   His funeral was the first one conducted in the new church in Yuma, Faith Bible Baptist Church.  Norman and Joan were married for 63 years.  On a historical note, the Knapton clan from the 16th to the 20th century named the firstborn sons William.

            Despite his early childhood bout with polio, he grew up to be a healthy man and a jack of many trades – remodeling homes and selling them; a driver’s license examiner in Pueblo, Trinidad, and Boulder; and the maintenance man for the city of Eckley, Colorado.  He also was fascinated by flying, obtained a pilot’s license, and enjoyed renting a plane to fly around the Eastern plains of Colorado.

            Norm had professed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ earlier in his life’s journey.  Norman and Joan Knapton were charter members of the Faith Bible Baptist Church in Yuma.   By this time health issues slowed him down so he could not help very much in the construction of its new building.  His generous contribution to the building was to design and create the stained glass windows for the church sanctuary.  Until his health began to fail, he had also served as a trustee of the church.  He became a resident of the Yuma Life Care Center for the last couple of years.

            Norman is survived by his wife Joan; twin sister Noreen Horning of Corvallis, Oregon; his brother Stanley Knapton and wife Carolyn, Tucson, Arizona; his sister Pat and her husband Larry Beaty, Sandia Park, New Mexico, as well as nephews and nieces.   Norm and Joan babysat for young Zehren Walker and liked to treat him as a grandson.   Those who have deceased were their son Randy, Norm’s parents, his brothers William, Rolland, and Donald, and a brother-in-law.

            Norman’s funeral was held on Friday morning, September 29, 2017, in the Faith Bible Baptist Church of Yuma, Colorado.  The service was conducted by Pastor Edwin Anderson, and sermon was brought by its retired Pastor, Donald Barnes. Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.