Gordon R. Knight

Gordon Robert Knight passed away on September 30th with his wife by his side. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him and remembered as a loving, kind, and caring husband and father, dependable, hardworking, always willing to help and always giving his best professionally. He leaves Adele, his wife of more than 60 years; daughter, Sharon and her son Jacob; daughter, Deborah with her son Adam; son, Timothy with his wife, Jolynn, daughter, Brystal and granddaughter, Lee’ Lani; son Thomas and his sons, Colby and Austin; and twin sisters, Janice and Janet; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A son, Daniel, was predeceased.

Gordon’s parents Robert and Bernadette Knight welcomed him into this world on September 25th during the hurricane of 1938. Gordon grew up in Dublin, graduating from Peterborough High School in 1956. Gordon worked locally before he enlisted in the military serving in both the National Guard and the Air Force. After his severance from the military, Gordon moved to Connecticut and began a welding career at General Dynamics in Groton.

It was in Salem, Connecticut that Gordon met and married Adele. He became a stepfather to her three children, whom he soon after adopted. Gordon introduced himself to the small community by joining the volunteer fire department and serving as the Zoning Officer. In 1969, Gordon and Adele took advantage of an opportunity to move to Dublin and buy the Knight family homestead. The old house needed many repairs and thus began Gordon’s hand at patching and renovating, landscaping, gardening, plowing snow, and cutting cords of wood to keep the woodstoves going. Gradually as time allowed, he began to serve on community boards: Planning Board, Capital Improvement Committee, and Hydrant Committee. He served as the Road Agent at one time.

Ironworking was his first employment in New Hampshire but Gordon (Gordie to some) quickly opted to begin his welding business at which he became very successful. He primarily repaired large equipment but also excelled at helping locals with a myriad of small jobs. Whether it was welding a piece for a woodstove, lawnmower, rakes, or installing wrought iron fences (example, railing at the Dublin Town Hall) he was always sought after and always made himself available. He was known as the guy who could fix anything. Gordon was employed by Park Construction for many years. He never completely retired and continued to do small jobs in his home shop until age 85.

Gordon’s talent for building and remodeling resurfaced when he and Adele decided to move out of the farmhouse and build a log home. With his do-it-yourself attitude, some help from family and friends, and the use of Park Construction equipment, the building began, resulting in a stunning family home, primarily heated with wood. The cutting of firewood escalated as he built an outside wood furnace that burned upwards of 18-20 cords of wood per season.

Recreation was a vital part of his life as well. There was always boating, beginning with a very small craft which would be trailered to local lakes. The move to a larger boat (Happiness) took Gordon and Adele to Lake Champlain where they enjoyed many years of cruising up and down the lake, North into Canada, and even as far South as Atlantic City. Cruising around the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River in Happiness was exhilarating and one of Gordon’s favorite memories. The adventures continued with the purchase of an RV and subsequent trips to Brandon, MO (6) to enjoy Gordon’s love of country music, to Colorado, Florida, Texas, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Mount Rushmore, and many, many states throughout the lower 48.

The RV trip of a lifetime was motoring westward and through the US and Canadian Rockies, then connecting to the ALCAN to reach Alaska. The favorite summer destination of all was Pemaquid Point, Maine, where the family had been visiting for 56 years. Gordon and Adele wintered in Jenson Beach, Florida for 6 years.

Gordon also loved playing pinocle, fishing, hunting, digging for clams in Maine, gardening, and watching birds (especially the hummers). He devised a clever contraption that bears could not reach so he could feed the birds all year long.

He will be missed and many want to pay tribute. There will be a service in Gordon’s memory on Saturday, October 19th at 11:00 a.m. in the Dublin Community Church. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Gordon’s name may be made to the American Heart Association or more locally to the Dublin Public Library, 1114 Main Street, Dublin, NH 03444.