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Joe T. Knight, Age 76, passed into the Lord's hands on December 28, 2003. A loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend. Joe is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lois O. Knight, daughter Beverly L. Schifani and husband Joseph G. Schifani, granddaughter, Faith Schifani, son Brian D. Knight and wife Claudia A. Knight all of Albuquerque. Additional survivors include Joe's younger brother William M. Knight and wife Glyneth A. Knight of Lubbock, TX, as well as numerous cousins. Joe is preceded in death by his parents Bertram D. Knight and Gertrue E. Knight, both of Childress, TX. He was born in Childress, TX on January 21, 1927. He was raised in Childress, TX and served in the U. S. Army during World War II as well as the Air Force Reserve for several years following the war. In 1948, Joe relocated to Albuquerque, NM and he retired from the U. S. Department of Energy in 1983, having completed 35 years of service as a Quality Electrical Engineer. Following his retirement from DOE, Joe joined Sandia Consultants, Inc. as a Consultant and he traveled extensively throughout the United States in both of his careers. In 1948, Joe also became licensed as an Amateur Radio Operator. He was highly active and dedicated to Amateur Radio from that time forward. He held the Amateur Radio Call Sign of W5PDY which he referred to phonetically as W5 "Pretty Darn Young" and his wife Lois presently holds the call sign of KC5CXO. Joe was extremely involved in New Mexico Search and Rescue operations and served as the New Mexico Section Manager for the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) for 27 years. An old-time member of the Sandia Base Radio Club and the Albuquerque Amateur Radio Club, Joe assisted in organizing the Amateur Radio Caravan Club and was its first Emergency Caravan Master. He also helped establish the Upper Rio FM Society, having served as President and Board Member. Joe was a Charter Member of the Albuquerque Chapter of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) as well as the Albuquerque DX Association and a Life Member of QCWA, ARRL and the Upper Rio FM Society. He was a member of numerous Amateur Radio Clubs and Nets throughout the Southwest and had a special interest in the New Mexico Radio Collectors Club. Joe was a pioneer in the creation of the Atomic Museum. He served as Vice President/Board Member of the ALO Employees Federal Credit Union. For the past 55 years Joe was a member of Central United Methodist Church having served as a board member and usher. He was also a Life Member of Hiram Lodge #13 A.F. & A.M, served as a board member and Rainbow Dad for Albuquerque Chapter #20 of the Order of Rainbow for Girls, and, for the past several years, served as a volunteer at the Albuquerque VA Hospital. Joe Knight truly left the rest of us a legacy, mainly, "serve others before yourself" with his philanthropic desire to assist others. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the ARRL Knight Distinguished Service Award or the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Fund at ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494. Memorial Donations may also be made to the American Lung Association of New Mexico, 120 Sierra Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, or the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, P.O. Box 26666, Albuquerque, NM 87125-6666. A family visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Thursday, January 1st at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel. A Memorial Service will be conducted on Friday, January 2nd at 2:00 p.m., at Central United Methodist Church, 1615 Copper NE. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333
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