Obituary of Chester L. Knowles

CUSHING Chester L. Knowles, Jr., 91 of Cushing, passed away September 9, 2015 at Cove's Edge in Damariscotta. Born in New Rochelle, New York May 30 1924, he was the son of Dr. Chester L. Knowles and Marjorie Webster Knowles who died in 1933, and stepson of Mildred P. Spurr Knowles. Chester graduated from the School of Chemical Engineering, Cornell University, in the summer of 1942. He entered the Navy V-12 program there, received a BS in Chemical Engineering, passed through Midshipman's School at Columbia University, and served as a CIC Officer and Fighter Director on the aircraft carrier Midway. Chester took his first job with the Plastics Division of Monsanto Chemical Co. in Springfield, Massachusetts. Within a year he met and married Barbara Roberts of Springfield in August 1948. He briefly worked for Knowles Assoc., returned to Monsanto and retired from Olin Corporation. After retirement Chester and Barbara moved from Norwalk, Connecticut to Cushing, Maine in July 1986. Chester spent ten years with the Cushing Rescue Squad, and he established a web site and an e-mail directory for the town. He served two years as president of the Cushing Historical Society, and held a number of committee posts for both the town and the Historical Society. Chester was an avid sailor. He also enjoyed woodworking, repairing, and caring for the house and the gardens. In later years, he found satisfaction in cooking, especially seafood dinners. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Barbara, daughter Susan Halihan of Concord, CA, grandson William Bryan Knowles (son of Bryan and Karen Knowles) of Montgomery City, Mo., grandson John Jakob Soyland (son of John and Leslie Soyland) of Norwalk, CT., and sister Mary Price of Chicora, Pennsylvania. He is survived by three children, Bryan and his wife Karen and their children Sarah and John of Montgomery City, Missouri; Amy Knowles of Warren, Maine; and Leslie Soyland, her husband John and their children Andrew and Erik of Norwalk, Connecticut. Also surviving Chester are his grandson Scott Halihan of Concord, California (Susan's son); great grandson Ayden Soyland (John Jakob Soyland's son); and stepsister Catherine P. Spurr of Sarasota, Florida. A celebration of life open house will be held at the Cushing Historical Society Saturday September 26 1:00-4:00. At a future date, interment will be in the family plot at the Pleasant View Cemetery, Cushing, Maine. Arrangements are under the care of Direct Cremation of Maine, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. Memories and condolences may be offered at www.directcremationofmaine.com.