Obituary of Fay Knapp

Fay Paul Knapp was born May 9, 1918 to Fay M. and Sophia (Burk) Knapp. He was the second of four children. He passed away on August 13, 2007. Fay graduated the 8th grade from a country school north of McDonald, Kansas. He worked for neighbors and uncles, farming and driving trucks. Later he owned and operated a restaurant in McDonald. January 3, 1942 Fay was drafted into the Army Air Corps at Levenworth, Kansas. He was then sent to Sheppard, Texas to the US Army Air Corps Technical School where he completed the course for Airplane Mechanics, then to Inglewoood, California where he completed the B-25 service course and on July 17, 1942 he received his Certificate of Training for the B-25c airplane. He shipped out February 15, 1942 from San Francisco, California on the USS West Point. He was in the 340th Bomb Group and 486 Squadron, 57th Bomb Wing. He was based at the foot of Mount Vesuvis, Italy, when it erupted. They had to evacuate under the falling ash and hot rock. They returned later to dig out of three feet of ash. Fay attained the rank of Technical Sergeant and was a crew chief. He was awarded the Bronze Star May 13, 1944. His other medals included Good Conduct; the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, eight major battles; the American Campaign medal, Victory WWII medal, Distinguished Unit Badge with Oakleaf Cluster. He returned to the US at Newport News, Virginia and was discharged October 15, 1945 at Leavenworth, Kansas, thus completing a trip around the world, crossing the equator twice. Fay purchased a tractor and some ground north of Seibert, where he lived, farmed and raised some sheep. On November 25, 1947 Fay married Ruby Gertrude (Brown) Kelley. Ruby brought with her to this union six children – Virginia, Duane, Junior, Lloyd, Ronald and Marvin. They purchased the Ned Clark homestead south of Seibert and made that the family home. Their daughter Janice was born January 1, 1956. Through the years Fay and Ruby farmed and ranched, sold cream and eggs and Fay did some mechanic work and welding in addition to farming. He was a VFW member and was on the Seibert/Hi-Plains school board for several years. Fay remained on the farm after Ruby passed away September 18, 1992. He still enjoyed playing cards, attending auctions and collecting kerosene lamps, a pastime inspired by his grandson, Paul and his collection. In October 2002, Fay sold the farm and moved to Burlington with daughter Janice. He enjoyed scouring yard sales, antique shops and auctions for lamps and was always ready for a game of Cribbage, Pinochle, Pitch or Canasta. Preceding Fay in death were his parents, Fay M. and Sophia; brother Delmer and sister Darlene (Knapp) Johndrow, and step-son Junior Kelley. Survivors include his daughter Janice, her son Paul and his daughter Aspen. Also step-children Marvin Kelley and wife Evelyn of Aurora; Virginia Miller and husband Duane of Denver; Duane Kelley and wife Celeste of Brighton; Lloyd Kelley and wife Bonnie of Northglenn; Ronald Kelley and wife Ardis of Kalespell, Montana and sister Blanche Phifer and husband of Grand Island, Nebraska and numerous step-grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral Services for Mr. Knapp were held on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 10:00 AM MT at the Love Funeral Home in Burlington. Military honors were provided by William Hogate Post 6491 out of Burlington. Burial was held at 12:30 PM MT at the Grace Cemetery in McDonald, Kansas with Bagpipes played by Michael Lancaster of Denver. Visitation was held on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Love Funeral Home in Burlington. Memorials may be made in Fay’s name to the Seibert Community Ambulance and may be left at the First National Bank in Seibert.