William "Bill" Eaton Knowlton, 93, of Thatcher, AZ, quietly entered into rest on August 21, 2017 at his home with his loving wife Celia at his side. He was born on August 1, 1924 to Karl Kent Knowlton & Beatrice Laura Eaton Knowlton in Deer Isle, Maine.
He graduated from McKinley High School in 1942. Being rejected for military service, he went to work in the defense industry. After the war he moved to Rhinebeck, New York. Then, because of an asthma condition, he moved to El Paso, Texas where he worked in automotive repair.
In 1962, he met and married Celia Zubia and in 1964 they moved to California where he continued working at automotive repair. Retiring in 1987 from the Los Angeles Unified School District working mostly on school buses and semi-trucks. The following year they moved to Thatcher, Arizona.
He was an avid golfer and he liked to tell how many states he had played in, including two of the Hawaiian Islands. He recorded two hole-in-ones; one in California and the other in Arizona. He and Celia enjoyed returning to Deer Isle for many summers after they retired. Many an afternoon you could find him at the Island Country Club "hacking away".
Bill is survived by his wife of 55 years, Celia, two daughters, Cynthia Knowlton of Safford and Deborah Pitcher of Poughkeepsie, New York, four grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild his nephew Leslie (Sharon) Beach his niece Bea (Tom) Handschu and a sister-in-law Lorraine Knowlton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Karl & Beatrice Knowlton, his son, William Karl Knowlton, his brothers; Percival (Evangeline), Eugene, Richard and Lawrence and two sisters; Karlota (Les) Beach and Ann (Elwood) Decker.
A viewing will be held on Friday, August 25, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Rosary at 10:00 a.m. with the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church with Father Robert Rodriguez as celebrant. Interment will follow on Monday, August 28, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in the Thatcher Cemetery.