Rexford Dale Knowles ’55 died on January 23, 2020, in Waterville, Maine.

(The following was published by The Bangor Daily News on January 28, 2020)

Rexford Dale Knowles, 86, died on January 23, 2020, after a long period of declining health. Rex was born in Pittsfield on Aug. 11, 1933, the son of Annie (Goodnow) Lawler Knowles and Arthur Knowles. Rex was a graduate of MCI High School, class of 1951. He attended Bowdoin College, transferred to UMO, and later graduated college in Pittsburgh, PA.

Rex served in the Army from Sept. 1954 to Sept. 1956. He completed his basic training at Ft. Dix, NJ, and was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC for 21 months. Rex met his future bride, Margaret Vicaire, in northern Maine in 1953. They married the following year in Dec. 1954. Rex and Margaret spent most of their lives living in Pittsburgh, where Rex was employed at a steel company. In their retirement years, Rex and Margaret moved to Unity Plantation in Maine.

Rex enjoyed many hobbies and interests, including photography and collecting coins, guns, and tractors. He enjoyed attending family gatherings, and studying the Civil War.

Rex was predeceased by his wife, Margaret, in 2001, and by two daughters, Mary Carlene Knowles and Cindy (Knowles) Welch. Rex was also predeceased by his parents, as well as a brother, Phillip Knowles; a half-brother, Norman Lawler, Sr.; a half-sister, Hazel (Lawler) DuDevoir; and a half-sister, Shirley (Lawler) McPherson.

Rex is survived by his daughter, Mary Tina (Knowles) Kivindis, and her husband, David, of Bristol, TN. He is also survived by two grandsons, Gary and James Welch, as well as many nieces and nephews.