Garnett O. Knowles Obituary (1933 - 2022)

Garnett Oscar Knowles was born March 6, 1933 in Ft. Lauderdale Florida to Melvin and Albertha Knowles, he graduated from the Ft. Lauderdale school system. Garnett worked odd jobs in Florida, then moved to New York where he became a caddy, then transferred to a position at the Montrose VA Hospital. Later in life he worked as a cook; his final employment was working as a bus driver/mechanic for the Sleepy Hollow school district which he retired from in 1998. Garnett met and married Ester Chaplin and to that union was born five sons, Garrett Knowles (deceased), Anthony Knowles (deceased) Freddy Knowles, Donald Knowles and Alvin Knowles (Nikki). He was also step-father to two daughters, Lou-Ester Swan and Valerie Swan. In 1962 he met his second wife Virginia. Together, they had four children, two sons and two daughters Gary Knowles (Lisa), Jay Knowles (Brenda), Cindy McIntosh (Errol) and Alberta Grant-Johnson (Benjamin), he also became step-father to five children Solomon, Hazel (Bruce), Helen, Nancy and the late Kenneth. Garnett is survived by two brothers, John Knowles and Eugene Knowles, two sisters Dorothy Williams and Vera Humphrey. He was predeceased by two brothers Cornelius Knowles and Darnell Knowles. Garnett's favorite pastimes were fishing, boating and barbeques, he also enjoyed going to Uncle Bill's house on the weekends to play cards with his friends (Uncle Bill was really our cousin but we called him uncle). Garnett was known as "Mooch" by his friends because he loved to dance (at least that is what he thought he was doing). He was in the Army for a couple of years and served in the Korean War in 1950. Garnett was a kind and caring soul who stepped up along with his wife Virginia to help the community at times, provide a loving home forchildren who weren't their own. In his later years he loved going to the river front to watch birds. Garnett is survived by a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and close family friends.