David Oscar Hope Knight Montiel

David Oscar Hope Knight Montiel was born on August 4, 1926, in Mexico City, Mexico and passed peacefully on February 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. He was the youngest of twelve children, raised in Tampico by his British father, John Dare Knight, and his Mexican mother, Modesta Montiel.

He described his parents as kind, loving people, who were generous with everyone, and who gave him wonderful birthday parties. He fondly remembered growing up in Mexico where his father worked for the British-owned Mexican Eagle Petroleum Company. He enjoyed going to baseball games with his closest brothers, Freddy and Charlie, and playing on the golf course after hours.

At age 13, David courageously came to the United States to attend Peacock Military Academy in San Antonio, Texas. Traveling solo, he would journey back and forth to Tampico by train, with an overnight stay in Monterrey. At Peacock, he served in the infantry and excelled in several sports. He enjoyed using his weekend passes to explore downtown San Antonio, go to the movies, and attend church. He graduated from Peacock in 1943 as Battalion Executive Captain.

Following high school and two years of education at the University of Texas, David volunteered for the U.S. Air Force and served from 1952 to 1956. He proudly became a U.S. citizen in 1954 and received commendations as an air transportation specialist at United States Air Forces Europe Headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany where he achieved the rank of staff sergeant. After his military service, he returned to the University of Texas where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 1958, majoring in commercial transportation and sales.

In 1963, he began a long successful career in the airline industry, primarily with Pan American World Airways and then with Aeromexico. An excellent communicator in both Spanish and English, he was named regional director of cargo operations for Central and South America and moved the family to Guatemala City from 1966 to 1968 to launch operations there. In Houston he flew on the first 747 and was involved in the inauguration of the Intercontinental Airport.

David was active in the community, teaching English classes and serving on the vestry and as head usher at Church of the Redeemer. Following retirement he served as a Harris County grand juror, was featured in patient simulations at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Houston, and worked for the Harris County Appraisal District.

David was a devoted husband and father, who was married to Sue Dickinson Knight for 68 years. He is survived by Sue and his six children, Michael, Shirley, Helen, Cynthia, Howard and Stephen and thoroughly enjoyed being granddad to 14 grandchildren. His family remembers his playful spirit, his comedic expressions, his funny nicknames for things, and his hearty laughter at a good joke. He was a master of word games, was the family champion of trivia, and absolutely loved the opportunity to show off his acting skills.

He will always be remembered as a dignified gentleman who rarely uttered a harsh word. He was the peacemaker in the family whose one request of his six kids was that they “love one another.” As a dad, he was always there with open arms. He was generous in saying "I'm proud of you" and in giving his unconditional love.

David’s family feels so blessed that he lived to be 99 1/2 years old and is grateful that he was able to see his children and his grandchildren grow up and be here for so many of life’s special moments. Because of his love and kindness, this world is a better place, and he will be forever missed.

Memorial Service:

Monday, March 9th at 3:00 pm

The Chapel at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

2450 River Oaks Blvd. Houston, TX 77019

Reception to follow in Sumners Hall