Joseph Carl Knakal Jr.

Joseph Carl Knakal, Jr., passed away on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at his much-loved home in Amherst County, Virginia. Joe was born on May 5, 1935, in Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Joseph Carl and Christine Valchar Knakal, both of whose families had emigrated in the early 1900s from Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) to the Richmond area. The household language of Joe’s early years was Czech. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Ronald Julius Knakal, and step-mother, Ruby, whom his daughters knew as a grandmother. Joe is survived by his wife, Zada Taylor Knakal; three daughters from his marriage to Carol Doyle Knakal: Christine Templeton (Stephen), of Spokane, Washington; Kathryn Smith (Ron), of Lynchburg; Karen Cercone (Steve), of Spotsylvania, Virginia; and two step-children, Richard Pierce, Jr. (Cari Lyn) of Herndon, Virginia, and Debra Pierce (Jim), of Alexandria, Virginia. Joe had seven grandchildren: Ryan Marsh, Christopher Knakal, Carlin Pierce, Gabrielle Cercone, Noah Smith, Brayton Pierce, and Nicholas Cercone, and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Carolyn Knakal, of Richmond, and one nephew, Stephen, and one niece, Carrie. Joe grew up in Culpeper, Virginia, where, in 1935, his parents founded Knakal’s Bakery, which remains in operation under the same name. His youth involved errands of all types for the business; throughout his life, no meal was complete without bread. He attended Culpeper schools, graduating in 1953 from Culpeper High School, where he played baseball, served as class president, and received numerous honors, including being named a delegate to the American Legion Boys State. There he met a Rockbridge County delegate, John Alford, forging a lifetime friendship as classmates, teammates, and law partners. Joe enrolled at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he was a member of the US Army ROTC, Lambda Chi Alpha, and the baseball team under coaches Billy McCann and “Weenie” Miller. He pitched in the Skyline League and Valley League in the summer, as he baffled hitters with his “k”nuckleball. After graduation in 1957, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army, but was deferred for W&L law school, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree (now Juris Doctor) in the class of 1959. That year, he began active duty, attending Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia, followed by the Judge Advocate General School at the University of Virginia. He was then stationed in Verdun, France, until his honorable discharge from the Army, holding the rank of Captain. Returning from Europe in 1963, Joe spent his professional career in Lynchburg, Virginia, with the firm that is now Caskie Frost. He was qualified to practice law before the United States Supreme Court for a case involving Sweet Briar Institute (College). He was in Washington DC to receive the decision in 1967. Joe has related to friends that he ran excitedly in search of coins for a pay phone to notify Mr. Davidson at the firm. Joe continued to practice corporate and business law at Caskie Frost until 2008, at which time he retired to the serenity of “The Mountain”, with its spectacular views in Amherst County. One of Joe’s college-era jobs was as a disc jockey at the Lexington radio station WREL. His lifelong love of sports and his warm and resonant voice brought him to the broadcast booth for college football. Hence, he launched a five-decade avocation, beginning in the 1950s. While still in college, he and a colleague, Bob Bradford, became the first radio broadcast team for Virginia Tech football. Following his military service, he reunited with “Weenie” Miller to broadcast VMI football and became the “Voice of the Keydets” for almost 18 years. He later rejoined Miller for local coverage of Hampden-Sydney football, often enjoyed by the tailgaters who viewed game action from the parking lot just above the field. Joe was an owner and member of the Lynchburg Baseball Corporation, serving for many years as attorney for the corporation until its sale in the 2000s. A highly-respected member of the Lynchburg community, he served for many years on the Board of Directors of Sweet Briar College, and on the Board of the Lynchburg Community Foundation. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, serving as a lay reader for services into the 2000s. A memorial celebration of life will be conducted on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. at Whitten Monelison Chapel. Immediately following the service, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Monroe Room. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, friends wishing to make memorial contributions consider the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, 1100 Commerce St., Lynchburg, Virginia 24505, or any other charity of choice.