Maj. Robert (Bob) Paul Knight, 89, slipped through the boundaries of Earth and took his final flight home to Jesus on December 7, 2020. Bob was born February 20, 1931 in Fairmont, WV. To parents Paul and Bertha Knight (nee Gleason). He met and soon married the love of his life, Varilla Davis, on December 23, 1957, making his home with his family in Elyria Township. Bob was a 1949 graduate of Monongah high school, Monongah, WV. He was a 23 year veteran officer of the United States Air Force, where he was an Operation Red Flag Fighter Pilot. As one of the Oberlin Center's original twelve,. Bob spent 24 years as an air traffic controller. He performed in the first Cleveland Air Show at Burke Lakefront Airport in 1964. Bob was a rebel who enjoyed pushing the envelope by buzzing over houses in the neighborhood and moving Air Force One. After retirement, Bob spent 10 years as a security officer at Nordson Corporation. Aside from his love for flight, Bob enjoyed hunting and fishing, camping and traveling with his family. One of his most favorite places to visit was Las Vegas where he could be found regularly donating his "Spare change" to the casinos. Bob and Varilla enjoyed exploring casinos and enjoying the buffets. In addition to his wife of nearly 63 years, Bob is survived by his son, Richard (Sherri); daughters Dr. Donna Knight (John), and Deborah (Tony) Lauricia. He was known as Papaw to 13 grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren, for whom he spent decades in the wings, on the sidelines, and in the stands, supporting them with pride. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers Jack, Daniel, and Charles. Family will receive friends 5-8 PM Thursday, December 10, 2020 , with a service at 7 PM at the Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home and Cremation Service 38475 Chestnut Ridge Rd. (at St. Rt. 57), Elyria 440-322-4626. A private internment with full Military Honors will be held at Brookdale Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers family asks donations be made in Bob's honor to the Dementia Society of America, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.laubenthalmercado.com Enjoy your WINGS, Handsome Flyboy, you earned them!

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