*Article courtesy of the Alpine Chamber of Commerce

ALPINE —- The service for Oscar Edward Knight III, well-known locally and globally through Kiwanis International, was held April 7 in Alpine. The 73-year-old Knight, who died April 1, was a husband, father, grandfather, decorated Army veteran, businessman and teacher known for his commitment to community service as a local Kiwanis leader who became an international Kiwanis trustee.

More than 650 people attended the humanitarian’s service at the Alpine Community Center at 1830 Alpine Blvd. “We had people flying in from all over the world,” said Bob Jackson of Alpine, a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Alpine and a past Kiwanis lieutenant governor. Jackson said the Alpine Kiwanis club was very emotionally attached to Knight, who lived in San Diego but was familiar to many in Alpine. Knight was Jackson’s best man when he wed his wife, Debbie. “The man was loved and well-respected,” Bob Jackson said. “He put other people in the community and children before him. He was a very humble man.” It was Knight, Jackson said, who helped organize area Kiwanis clubs in 2003 to support relief efforts during and after the deadly Cedar Wildfire.

Alpine Kiwanis members heard April 5 that Knight’s family was having trouble finding a church or location large enough for Knight’s Easter weekend service. Jackson said the club went into action. Sue Roff, executive director of the Alpine Community Center, did some rescheduling and moved at least one event to make the center available, he said. Alpine club members helped set up the memorial service and clean up after it.

Jackson first got to know Knight well when both men were visiting at Children’s Hospital in San Diego. They made trips to McDonald’s together to get food for their families while two very sick boys were being treated. “He had a grandson with sickle cell anemia,” Jackson said. “I had a grandson going through chemotherapy for cancer. We shared those very special moments.” Visit www.AlpineKiwanis.org for more information about the organization.