Alva Rollin ‘Red’ Knouff — UPDATED
Alva Rollin ‘Red’ Knouff
Alva Rollin ‘Red’ Knouff, 97, Warsaw, passed away at 2:15 p.m.,Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, at his home. Rollin was born on May 10, 1923, to Howard and Ora (Grimes) Knouff. On Oct. 10, 1941, he was united in marriage to Inabelle Krumanaker who passed away on Feb. 1, 2015.
During his childhood and high school years his family lived in the Warsaw and Winona Lake area. During the Depression era his father moved the family to Alabama for about a year after which they returned to this area. In high school he was active in band and was also in the senior play. His love of music continued into adult life with him learning to play the Hawaiian guitar and harmonica. He really wanted to be in a band but realized his family came first. He loved to hunt squirrels and fish. He also raised rabbits which he sold to the local grocery store. He was an avid bowler on several different teams and was inducted into the Warsaw Bowling Hall of Fame. In the early years of the Warsaw Speedway he was a mechanic for one of the cars during the 1950’s.
He drove a milk truck for Litchfield Creamery before serving his country as a US Marine during WWII. After his discharge he returned to Litchfield Creamery where he ultimately became head of maintenance and in charge of maintenance for the entire plant. When the creamery closed and was reopened as AMPI he continued to work for them until he decided to retire.
Red was self-educated in electronics and was a TV and radio repair man while he was also working for Litchfield. He eventually designed, built and maintained the early drive through ordering system for Penguin Point restaurants. He continued to repair the system until he was in his 80’s.
After retiring he learned to fly and purchased his own airplane which he kept at the Warsaw Airport for many years. After he was no longer able to fly himself he continued to spend several days of the week meeting with his fellow pilot friends at the “Pilots Round Table” of which he was “The President.”
He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and two brothers. He is survived by two sisters Rachael and Delores Knouff, his children Gary A. Knouff (Myra), Steven D. Knouff (Marg), Cynthia J. Cordill (Dan), nine grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren in addition to Oliver Steven Knouff, born Jan. 9, 2021.
A public visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw. There will be a private family burial service on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Oakwood Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled for a later date.
Due to current COVID-19 recommendations, masks are required. The public is kindly requested to provide their own. Social distancing is strongly encouraged. No food permitted at this time.
The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made in Red’s honor to the Cancer Care Fund, K21 Health Foundation, 1101 Park Avenue, Winona Lake, In. 46590.
To Sign the Guestbook or Send a Condolence go to www.mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
