Robert Franklin Knighten, Jr.

Robert Franklin Knighten, Jr., age 85, of rural Florence, died Thursday, July 2, 2009, at the University Hospital in Columbia.
He was born August 11, 1923, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, a son of Robert F. Sr., and Cora Esther Miller Knighten. On April 25, 1943, in El Monte, California, he was united in marriage to Betty Smith and she survives at their home.
He was an Army veteran, serving his country during World War II.
Robert served as a minister with the Church of the Nazarene, serving in churches on the West Coast, Utah and Alaska. He also worked as a carpenter.
He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Eldon.
He enjoyed gardening, fishing, and building things. He loved being outdoors where he could be on his old tractor and enjoy nature. Robert was also an accomplished landscape artist, who especially enjoyed painting mountain scenes.
In addition to his beloved wife of 66 years, he is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Susan Blancett of rural Florence; Linda and Al Gilhuly of New Port, Oregon and Cheryl and Richard Ward of rural Florence; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Cora Esther Springer of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ethel Jean Cross of DeWitt, Arkansas and Mary Ellen and Bill Reichstadt of Miami, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Curtis D. Blancett, Jeffrey A. Blancett, Brent Allen Butler, Robert Franklin Butler, Richard Allen Ward, Jr., and Staci Lyn Brandt, five great grandchildren, Cassaundra D. Blancett, Eric Christopher Butler, Hannah Elizabeth Butler, Ty Allen Ward and Tate Franklin Ward, also several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Jess, Ralph and Frank Knighten and four sisters, Dorothy Evans, Nancy Sims, Anna Morgan and Geraldine Casey.
Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday, July 9, at the Church of the Nazarene in Eldon. Friends will be received from 12:00 P.M. until service time at the church on Thursday. Burial, with military funeral honors, will be in the Stover Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Home Mission projects through the Church of the Nazarene.