James Edward Knoll

James graduated from Reagan High School; and then, served in the US Marine Corp as a Field Artillery Cannoneer during the Korean War. From Sept. 21, 1950 to Oct 7, 1950 they captured and secured Seoul, Korea; Oct 26, 1950 to Dec. 11, 1950 participated in the Wonsan-Hungnam-Chosein Campaign Northern Korea; Dec 16, 1950 to Oct 2, 1951 he participated in operations against enemy forces in south and central Korea. He was appointed Sgt in 1951 and received the Presidential Unit Citation w/1; Korean Service Medal w/2; and the United Nations Service Ribbon. He was honorably discharged in 1952. He then went to University of Houston and received a bachelors degree.

He was a Houston Firefighter over 39 years. He retired as a Captain of Fire Station 16 in the Montrose area of Houston, Texas. After the war, he married his wife Joyce Woods, and they settled in Houston and had three sons, Brad, Loren, and Craig. After his wife’s death in 1999 he married Glenda Rankin Knoll in 2002.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife Joyce and son Brad. Surviving are his sons Loren and Craig Knoll; step-son John Rankin and his wife, Diana, of Lewis Center, OH; and step-son Dr. Gary Rankin and wife, Michelle, of Greensboro, NC; granddaughter, Stephenie Knoll; step grandchildren, Tara Helmer, Jill Vega, Natalie Rankin, Garrett Rankin, Grant Rankin; and five step great grandchildren; Chase, Tori, Maxwell, Miles and Vivienne.