(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)John Lawrence Knowlton Sr. was born on a kitchen table on September 21st of 1933 to William S. and Frances Catherine Knowlton at the Saginaw Highlands Knowlton Dairy Farm one mile east of Saginaw, Missouri.
In October of 1948, John Knowlton accepted Jesus as his Lord and savior at Saginaw Baptist Church in Saginaw, Missouri.
John graduated from Joplin senior high school in 1951 and then moved to Kansas City, Missouri to attend Maler Barber College in 1952.
After graduating Barber College, John worked as a barber in Joplin, Missouri from 1953 thru 1958. In 1959, John returned to Kansas City, Missouri, where he opened his own barber shop known as Little John’s Barber Shop.
In 1961, John moved his family to Long Beach, California and went to work as a long haul truck driver moving household goods for Trans World Van lines up and down the west coast from San Diego, California to Seattle, Washington.
In 1972, after the death of his father, John moved his family to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where he worked for International Van lines driving a 18 wheel truck from coast to coast, moving general motors employees and oil company employees from one location to another. John continued working for International Van lines until April 23rd of 1979.
During John’s driving career, he drove an 18 wheel truck safely for more than 3 million miles without ever once being involved in an accident.
On April 23rd of 1979, John went to work at the General Motors plant in south Oklahoma City as a truck driver and worked there for 25.2 years, retiring on May 1st of 2004.
In 1961, John moved his family to Long Beach, California and went to work as a long haul truck driver moving household goods for Trans World Van lines up and down the west coast from San Diego, California to Seattle, Washington.
In 1972, after the death of his father, John moved his family to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where he worked for International Van lines driving a 18 wheel truck from coast to coast, moving general motors employees and oil company employees from one location to another. John continued working for International Van lines until April 23rd of 1979.
During John’s driving career, he drove an 18 wheel truck safely for more than 3 million miles without ever once being involved in an accident.
On April 23rd of 1979, John went to work at the General Motors plant in south Oklahoma City as a truck driver and worked there for 25.2 years, retiring on May 1st of 2004.
During John’s tenure at General Motors, he was elected Vice President and C.A.P. (community action program) chairman for U.A.W. local 1999 for 20 years.
On May 3rd of 1999, an F5 tornado struck in south Oklahoma City, Moore and Midwest City area. John was asked by General Motors and U.A.W. International Union to chair a relief team of 200 members to provide relief/supplies to the people who had been affected by the F5 tornado.
John also served on an advisory committee for sheriff John Whetsel for many years.
John lived in the south Oklahoma City area for more than 40 years. In 1990 John organized the Southern Oaks neighborhood Association. John moved to his daughter’s home Mary Ann Prisch 2021 till his death.
He is survived by five children; Mary Ann Prisch (Ron) of Joplin, Missouri, David Lee Knowlton (Jenny) of News Port News, Virginia, Lary Dale Knowlton (Patricia) of Heathe, Texas, Charlene Anne Evans of Joplin, Missouri, John Lawrence Knowlton Jr. of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sharon Knowlton daughter-in-law of Independence, Kansas.
Extended Family: Ex-wife Jean Knowlton of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Carol Roes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Donnie Schoonover of Norman, Oklahoma, and Sharon Moreno of Bullhead, Arizona. 33 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild and 1 on the way.
John, was preceeded by his parents William S. Knowlton and Catherine Frances Knowlton, his sister, Margaret Brand, his brother William (Billy) Robert Knowlton, Children William Sherman Knowlton, Karen Louise Bouchard, 3 days after he passed, Brenda U-Banks.One grandaughter, Jennifer Cole, Son-in-laws Carl A. Evans, and George Bouchard, 2 great grandsons.
Vistation will be June 17, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Saginaw Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at Saginaw Baptist Church 406 Bartlett Ave in Saginaw, Missouri 64804 on June 18, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Saginaw Baptist Church.
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