Roy Allen Knepper, 89, of Dunedin, FL funeral services are 12:30 PM, January 9, 2009 at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, FL with Captain Art Nave and the Marion County Military Honor Guard, to officiate. He will be laid to rest with his wife, Nellie Opal Knepper, who died on March 23, 2008.
For the first time in our life, we’ll celebrate Father’s Day this year without our dad. The person who had the most influence on the people we became passed away on January 4, 2009. Roy Knepper was 89.
It has been said that the loss of a parent is one of life’s most traumatic events. We now know the devastating truth of that statement. We’ve been told that in time the hurt will fade, only to be replaced by positive memories that soothe the soul. Already, we can feel that happening.
Our father was a remarkably good man, like many of the inspiring role models and mentors who all too infrequently appear in our lives. Like them, he was a person of devotion and integrity, a man who understood a hard day’s work. Yet, unlike many of them, he never had the advantage of a college education. He worked pretty much his entire life in two places: as a young man he joined the Army Air Corps where he served during WW II, and later as a painting contactor in Dunedin, Florida. This would pretty much sum up his livelihood, but not his life.
Dad loved baseball. And to steal a line from the Billy Crystal movie City Slickers, “Even when we couldn’t find anything to talk about, we could always talk about baseball.” Our father grew up playing baseball on the sandlots and high school fields of Wichita, Kansas before he joined the military. He then played ball for the Army and was later picked up by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. He played for their minor league team in Florida, The Miami Sun Sox. Dad played in the Cuban International League and just last year we were able to get a copy of his baseball card from a dealer in south Florida.
There are not many young men from the Dunedin area where we grew up that didn’t know Dad from either Little League or Babe Ruth League. He coached and managed ball teams from the early 60’s to the early 80’s. It’s where he earned his nickname "Roy da Boy" from one of his many players. Yes, he helped a lot of young boys including his sons develop life skills through the joy of a summer game.
In his retirement our father enjoyed his grandchildren Eric, Alex, Morgan, and Novalee. He enjoyed watching the Rays and the Braves on TV. And he loved a family visit, especially from his only daughter.
We will bury our father on Friday. He was the last one to leave the field of life as he survived his brother Bill and his sister Virginia. And last Easter he said goodbye to his wife Nellie of nearly 50 years. Our brother joked about how mom’s probably nagging dad in heaven with, "What took you so long, Roy?"
The older we get the more all us realize how much we are like our father. And the more we realize that, the more we know it is, by and large, a good thing. We will miss our father deeply and although he didn’t leave us with riches, he left us rich with thought and memories.
We love you, Pop. Thank you for everything.
Rocky, Ronnie, Melody, and Dave
Rocky, Ronny and Mel. Sorry to hear about the passing of your father. He sure loved baseball. We all have a lot of memories of him. Love Helen
Dear Folks,
What a wonderful tribute to your Dad. I thank you for allowing us to be part of his life, if only for a short time. I will remember him sitting outside on the patio with his cap and shades, “getting a little sun.” He loved being outside on warm days. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you all as you say good bye.
Dave, Melody, Ronnie and Rocky,
So sorry to read about your Dad’s recent passing and your Mom’s last year. Your folks were great people. The tribute to your Dad was very moving. I hope you are all at peace knowing your parents are together again.
To my dear friend, Melody, and the rest of her family. I cried when I read this because it was so touching and so true regarding riches. Some riches just don’t have a price tag you ca put on them; they are not tangible, but intangible. May you as sister and brothers always stay close and remember what truly counts: family and friends! There is nothing else on this great earth that matters more than that!
Mel, I am always here if you need me; you are like another sister to me (the one most like myself, but much more radical! :-) I love you dearly and you just pick up a phone, show up on my doorstep send me an e-mail, and I am there for you!
May the “man upstairs” rest your father’s soul and spirit and bring him to his heavenly fold!
All my love,
your friend and sister-in-Christ,
Donna C.
Melody, Dave, Rocky and Ronnie,
I was so glad to hear from Melody, but so sad to hear her news. Just know you have family in North Carolina who are thinking of you and praying for you. The tribute to your Dad is wonderful, and I hope your sorrow is soon replaced by nothing but good memories of your Dad.
With love,
Your cousin
Sherry
What a wonderful summary of your Father’s life! I want to thank you all for allowing us to care for him for a short time. Even though I did not get to know each of you, I can say with confidence that you all were the light of your Dad’s life. I enjoyed so much the times I got to visit him and care for him. He will truly be missed.
I’ll miss grandpa, all the Christmas’ we spent visiting with him and the rest of the family of were always good times. I liked the brief biography and found a few things out I didn’t know before about him. I see now where my dad gets all his work ethic from :). Goodbye gramps. God bless.
I will always cherish the special times myself and my grandfather shared together while I was growing up. His unconditional love and support will forever be remembered and appreciated. I’ll miss you grandpa.
Love,
Eric
Rocky, Ron, Melody and David,
I’m so sorry about Pops passing. I know you all loved him very much and he loved you just as much! He had a good life and left this earth knowing that. God will be with him now! His spirit lives on in all of you. Love Carla
Even though I didn’t really know your Dad, he seemed to really have a great heart and loved his baseball. It’s so hard losing a loved one, especially your parents, but it’s sadder when the parent’s have to loose their children first. There will always be the memories that you can’t take away from your mind and heart that will be with you always. And when you see their picture it brings back all those memories from the earlier times. Time will heal all sorts of things, but the memories will last forever. Our sincere sympathies go our to all the family.
Buzz and Karen Ericson
I Haven’t seen Mr Knepper in years and I will forever have the visual of remembering him sitting on his recliner watching baseball on TV with a grin on his face. You could tell he loved the game of baseball. I know it is tough to lose your parent(s), but we have to believe that we all will join together again in the life therafter, right? I am very sorry for your lose. Charlie and Kim
Roy Knepper was one of the best little league coaches a kid could of had. Remember him having us at fisher field shagging balls and spittin his tobacco, what good memories. 1965 – 1969 The Phillies team picture on his wall. Always a fun place to visit in fairway estates. R.I.P. Hello Rocky , Ronnie, Melody and David was just born.