Clyde Lelon Knox

Clyde Lelon Knox was born in Bell, California, October 22, 1931. During his first years of life, Clyde lived in many cities throughout the Los Angeles area. In 1948 at the young age of 17 he quit school to join the United States Air Force. For the next three years, he served his country working on B29’s for the 8th AF509 Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas and Roswell, New Mexico. Along with working on airplanes, Clyde boxed in the AF. In 1953, Clyde began his long career as a telephone equipment installer. He retired at the age of 72.

Clyde met and started dating Wanda Brown in 1953. They dated for a couple of years before being married on September 18, 1955. After spending the first decade of marriage in Compton, California, the family moved to Yorba Linda in 1966 where he resided until his death on August 31, 2024.

Clyde is preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Lelon Knox and Dorothea Winter, his older sister, Leona Manthey and his younger brother, John Robert Knox. He is survived by his wife of nearly 69 years, Wanda and his daughters, Cathy Kennerson (John) and Caryl Shill (Ted). Clyde was the proud grandfather of: Ted Shill (Jaymie), Elizabeth Heiner (Jeremy), Mariah Mills (Kalon), William Shill and Kaylie Kennerson. Nine great grandchildren called him Great Grandpa: Madison, Reagan, Andrew, Samantha, Jackson, Hudson, August, Abigal and Lincoln. He is also survived by his sister Sheryl Martin.

Clyde’s passion was cars. He spent many hours rebuilding various cars over the years. One remodel he started with was just the shell of a car, cut in half. Ford engines ended up in his Chevy and Buick. His favorite bumper sticker read, “I’d rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy.” At the time of his death, he owned a 1940 Buick and his first ever new vehicle, a 1965 Ford 100 also known as “Old Blue”.