Bobby Knight

Bobby Eugene Knight died due to complications from heart disease at his home in LaGrange, Ga., on February 1, 2024, after first having his morning coffee. He was receiving services from West Georgia Hospice at the time.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest James Knight and Susie Neely Knight, and by his infant sister. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, his son Steve (Tricia) Fambro of Carlsbad, Ca., his son Joseph (Sara) Knight of Newnan, and by his grandchildren Phoebe and Christian Fambro and Margaret and Patrick Knight. He is additionally survived by his brothers Ernest James Knight, Jr., of Tucker, and David (Lisa) Knight of Carrollton. Bob leaves behind numerous extended family and friends who will miss him dearly.

Bob was born in LaGrange on October 8, 1944. His family moved to a farm in Heard County shortly thereafter. When he was 12 years old, he moved back to LaGrange, where he attended LaGrange High School until leaving to join the U.S. Army at age 17.

In the Army, Bob served through the Cuban Missile Crisis and also completed a 13-month deployment to South Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1964. He went on to work for Delta, and then for Milliken. It was while taking a management training course for Milliken at West Georgia Tech that he met Barbara, who would become his wife of nearly 55 years. She was the instructor of his Business Communications course. Bob would go on to tell anybody who would listen that he had to marry Barbara to get out of her class with a passing grade.

Using his G.I. Bill benefits to return to college, Bob enrolled at ABAC in Tifton, where he was elected to Chief Justice of the student judiciary, and was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He then transferred to the University of Georgia, where he graduated with a BBA in Real Estate and Urban Development in 1974. While a full-time student at UGA, he also managed a cattle farm in Danielsville.

Bob eventually returned to LaGrange, where he began a successful career in real estate sales and development, running Bob Knight Real Estate for several decades. Later, in semi-retirement, Bob went on to work 20 years for the Small Business Administration in the area of Disaster Assistance. He was a member of the Georgia and Troup County Real Estate Commissions, of Union Lodge No. 28, and, most proudly, was a deacon at First Baptist Church on the Square, where he had been a member for 50 years.

Bob was a friend to everyone, and a was a helper to all in times of distress. He enjoyed fishing, telling stories, negotiating, finding a “good deal,” tinkering with old cars, reading about U.S. History, coaching his son’s football team, playing with his grandchildren, playing card games and dominoes with Barbara, and pulling for the Georgia Bulldogs. Bob had a particular appreciation for good and simple food, including bacon, cornbread, fried catfish, and homegrown tomatoes. He loved making pulled pork barbeque and the sauce for it, but even more he loved sharing it with friends, family, and those in need. He hated lying, cheating, thieving, and the abuse of privilege.

The family would like to thank the caregivers of West Georgia Hospice, the staff of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary including neighbor Eddie Lucas, members of the Watchmen Sunday School class, and all the friends and family who visited Bob at the hospital or at home. A special thanks goes to Travis Copeland for years of faithful friendship and support, and to Dr. Dan Sorescu, professor of cardiology and treating physician at Emory University, for eight years of constant and vigilant care.

Visitation will be at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary in LaGrange on Saturday, February 3, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, February 4, at 2:00 PM, at First Baptist Church on the Square in LaGrange. Flowers will be accepted, but donations may also be made to the building fund of First Baptist Church on the Square.

Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange Georgia in charge of arrangements