William Gene Knuckles

William Gene “Bill” “Coach” Knuckles, born April 25, 1928, having completed well the race set before him, left his earthly home and went to be with his Savior Jesus Christ early in the morning on Saturday June 4, 2016. Bill was a beloved husband, brother, uncle, friend and coach, and while his family and friends grieve the loss of his presence here on earth, they also rejoice in the blessed assurance that as believers in Jesus they will see him again one day. Bill was born in Sioux City, Iowa, the oldest son of Thomas and Helen Knuckles and big brother to Kay,Tom and Judi. Sports - especially football and basketball - were a big part of Bill’s life starting in his youth when he played basketball at Benson High School, home of the undoubtedly fierce Benson Bunnies, in Omaha, Nebraska. Directly after high school, however, sports took a back seat as Bill enlisted in the U. S. Army in September of 1945 at the age of 17, serving in occupied Japan and honorably discharged as a Technician 5th Grade in February of 1948, having earned the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal of Japan. Bill graduated with a BA from Denver University and went on to attain his Masters degree in Physical Education from Colorado State College. Bill’s chosen career after college serves to explain why he was known and loved by so many as “Coach.” He started out coaching High School football and basketball at schools such as Yuma and Holyoke in Colorado, later coming to Spokane in 1958 as head coach for the Whitworth Pirates Men’s Basketball team and assistant coach for Pirate Football. From Whitworth, Bill went on to coach in the football programs at the University of Idaho, Southern Illinois University and the University of Louisville, finally finishing his college coaching travels as head coach of the Rocky Mountain College “Battlin’Bears” football team in Billings, Montana. A new opportunity to become the head basketball coach and athletic director at Northwest Christian in Spokane brought Bill and his wife Phyllis back to Spokane to stay. Bill was the first coach to ever lead the Crusaders to a berth in the State Championships. Bill was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis Knuckles, who succumbed to Multiple Sclerosis in 1998. He was, without a doubt, her “Knight in Shining Armor” as he loved her, doted on her, and in fact quite literally carried her through their 49 married years together. The oldest of four children, Bill is survived by his sister Kay Kinley, his brother Tom Knuckles and his sister Judi Plumb, all of whom he loved just as they loved him. He also leaves behind his dear companion of the last few years, Roberta Johnson. In Bill’s life there was no love greater than his love for the Lord Jesus Christ. He was given a beautiful bass voice that he shared with countless people, often singing solos in church or at weddings or leading worship. Psalm 91:2 “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” A memorial service for Bill will be at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 10th at South Hill Bible Church, 958 E 29th Ave. in Spokane.