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Vernon Knight passed away at Arcadia Health Care Center on March 1, 2023 at the age of 88 after an extended illness, but a very full life. He was the son of Gwendolyn Waterhouse Knight but grew up in predevelopment Kaneohe in the welcoming household of hanai parents, Francis and Laura Bowers. After graduating from Punahou School, class of '52, he interrupted his college education for three years in the U.S. Army, later earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics at the University of Hawaii, followed by graduate study at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Vernon worked at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle before joining the U.S. Department of Defense, Naval Division as a programmer analyst, from which he retired after 40 years of service.
In 1969 he moved back to Hawaii to raise his family in Kaneohe with then wife Mary Jane. He is remembered by his children for working hard but also taking the time to regularly pile them, and sometimes the neighborhood kids too, into his Volkswagen van for hiking, camping and trips to the beach. Most of all, they remember him as an adoring, supportive father and husband.
A talented guitar/ukulele player and singer, Vernon often entertained at Punahou assemblies playing guitar and singing with a group of friends, two of whom went on to become the Kingston Trio. Having grown up in a home where Hawaiian culture was strong and family and friends often gathered to play Hawaiian music, he described himself as "Hawaiian at heart". He enjoyed sharing his love of Hawaiian music with others and was an enthusiastic member of hula Halau Na Wainohia and the Punahou Alumni Glee Club.
He was a life member of Sierra Club, a dedicated environmentalist, a parent-leader of their high school hikers program, and both a participant in and leader of their trail building activities and service trips to the outer islands. Vernon began swimming as a child in leeward streams and drainage ditches. He graduated to pool and ocean swimming and was co-captain of his University of Hawaii swim team. A member of the Waikiki Swim Club, he was a passionate competitor in many pool competitions, ocean races, biathlons and triathlons. He was most proud of his solo channel swims (Lanai to Maui and Maui to Molokai), his Waikiki Roughwater Swim trophies, and being the first person 80 years and older to complete the Waikiki Long Distance (double roughwater course) Swim.
With his wife, Judy, and especially after retirement, he became an enthusiastic U.S. and world traveler and never tired of exploring new countries and cultures.
Vernon was preceded in death by brother Francis "Miki" Bowers and sister Laura "Betty" Evensen. He is survived by his wife and partner of 36 years, Judith Buffington, a sister, Helen Fauss of California, and four children from his previous marriage to Mary Jane Knight: Elizabeth Byrd (Morris) of Washington, Stephen Knight of Japan, Barry Knight (Christine) and Laura Gaber (Mike) of California. He also leaves behind eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at Oahu Cemetery Chapel, 2233 Nuuanu Ave, on April 18, 2023. 10:00 Visitation, 11:00 Service, Refreshments to follow, 1:30 Burial (for family only).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
U.H. Swimming and Diving Team or Sierra Club Hawaii.
Arrangements Provided By: Oahu Mortuary
