1937
Richard
2015
Richard Knapp
May 15, 1937 — August 31, 2015
Long-time Davis, California resident Richard "Dick" Knapp, age 78, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and uncle died at home Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, surrounded by his loving family after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease.
Dick was born May 15, 1937 in Seattle, Washington, the eldest of six children, to Ralph R. Knapp Jr. and Marjorie E. Knapp. In 1954 the Knapp family moved to Santa Cruz, California where Dick graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1955. He then joined the U.S. Army Reserves and enrolled at Monterey Peninsula College where he met the love of his life, Joan Dutra. They were married in 1958 and moved to San Jose where their first child (Kathy) was born while Dick worked at San Jose State.
In 1960 he moved his family to Davis, where he worked at the UC Davis bookstore for 36 years in various positions including shipping and receiving, merchandise manager and buyer until he retired in 1996. He was active in the local theater, including "JayRob" in Sacramento and "West of Broadway" in Davis, performing in productions such as "You Can't Take it With You."
A passionate sports fan, he loved to play golf and bowl, and helped organize the UCD employee bowling league in the late '60s and early '70s. Dick umpired softball leagues, coached Babe Ruth baseball teams and during the 1980's served as president of the local Pop Warner football team, the Tri-City Cowboys. For 30 years, Dick worked the chain gangs on the sidelines at Davis High and UCD football games, and operated the scoreboard for the UCD men's and women's basketball games at Hickey Gym and Rec Hall. A huge baseball and football fan, he was most fond of the San Francisco Giants and Forty-Niners.
Dick also loved and is very much missed by his yellow Lab, Daisy. Dick and his wife Joan were avid enthusiasts of opera and attended many operas in San Francisco; he loved to sing and had a beautiful singing voice.
Dick is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joan; daughters Kathy Garcia and Diane Knapp (Joey Lucero) of Davis; sons Jeff Knapp (wife Deanne) of Soquel, and Rick Knapp of Davis; grandchildren Richard H. Garcia of Davis and Amanda Foster (husband Brian) of Elk Grove, Cassandra Knapp of Idaho, Jeffrey A.L. Knapp of Felton, Jacob Knapp of Seattle, and Jennie Knapp of Davis; brothers James Knapp and John Knapp (wife Muriel) of Washington, Thomas Knapp (wife Mardi) of Oregon; and sisters Joanne Bevilacqua of Pacific Grove and Mary Hanson of Florida.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law, Richard Garcia.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Smith's Funeral Home, 116 D St. in Davis, followed by a Rosary; a funeral mass and celebration of life will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St., with a reception at Parish Hall and burial to follow at the Davis Cemetery.
Special thanks goes out from the Knapp family to his doctors at WHC and Yolo County Hospice for all of their care and help. The Knapp family asks that in lieu of flowers or gifts a donation can be sent to Yolo County Hospice or the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Mass of Christian Burial
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Yolo Hospice
Dick was born May 15, 1937 in Seattle, Washington, the eldest of six children, to Ralph R. Knapp Jr. and Marjorie E. Knapp. In 1954 the Knapp family moved to Santa Cruz, California where Dick graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1955. He then joined the U.S. Army Reserves and enrolled at Monterey Peninsula College where he met the love of his life, Joan Dutra. They were married in 1958 and moved to San Jose where their first child (Kathy) was born while Dick worked at San Jose State.
In 1960 he moved his family to Davis, where he worked at the UC Davis bookstore for 36 years in various positions including shipping and receiving, merchandise manager and buyer until he retired in 1996. He was active in the local theater, including "JayRob" in Sacramento and "West of Broadway" in Davis, performing in productions such as "You Can't Take it With You."
A passionate sports fan, he loved to play golf and bowl, and helped organize the UCD employee bowling league in the late '60s and early '70s. Dick umpired softball leagues, coached Babe Ruth baseball teams and during the 1980's served as president of the local Pop Warner football team, the Tri-City Cowboys. For 30 years, Dick worked the chain gangs on the sidelines at Davis High and UCD football games, and operated the scoreboard for the UCD men's and women's basketball games at Hickey Gym and Rec Hall. A huge baseball and football fan, he was most fond of the San Francisco Giants and Forty-Niners.
Dick also loved and is very much missed by his yellow Lab, Daisy. Dick and his wife Joan were avid enthusiasts of opera and attended many operas in San Francisco; he loved to sing and had a beautiful singing voice.
Dick is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joan; daughters Kathy Garcia and Diane Knapp (Joey Lucero) of Davis; sons Jeff Knapp (wife Deanne) of Soquel, and Rick Knapp of Davis; grandchildren Richard H. Garcia of Davis and Amanda Foster (husband Brian) of Elk Grove, Cassandra Knapp of Idaho, Jeffrey A.L. Knapp of Felton, Jacob Knapp of Seattle, and Jennie Knapp of Davis; brothers James Knapp and John Knapp (wife Muriel) of Washington, Thomas Knapp (wife Mardi) of Oregon; and sisters Joanne Bevilacqua of Pacific Grove and Mary Hanson of Florida.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law, Richard Garcia.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Smith's Funeral Home, 116 D St. in Davis, followed by a Rosary; a funeral mass and celebration of life will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St., with a reception at Parish Hall and burial to follow at the Davis Cemetery.
Special thanks goes out from the Knapp family to his doctors at WHC and Yolo County Hospice for all of their care and help. The Knapp family asks that in lieu of flowers or gifts a donation can be sent to Yolo County Hospice or the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Previous Events
VisitationWednesday, September 16, 2015
5:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Smith Funeral Home - Davis
116 D Street
Davis, CA 95616
Thursday, September 17, 2015
10:00 AM
St. James Catholic Church
1275 B Street
Davis, CA 95616
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Knapp, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 45
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors