Barbara Richards Knight

Barbara Richards Knight (Bobbie, Babs, Barbs) went home to be with God in Heaven on Friday, September 7, 2018, at her home in Harmony Hall of the Crossings at Bon Air three days after her 80th birthday. She was the wife of Dr. Frank S. Knight Sr. for 50 years and is survived by and was the mother of four children: Frank Sutton Knight Jr. (his wife Nancy Moy Knight and two girls), Christopher Andrew Knight (his wife Emily Burhans Knight and their four boys), Julie Harrison Knight, now Julie K. Purisima (her husband Renato (Rob) Purisima and their two girls) and Payton Alexander Knight II (his wife Emma Collins Knight and their two boys). She has ten wonderful grandchildren who she adored; Hannah Christina Knight, Sarah Christina Knight, Andrew Marshall Knight, Benjamin Douglas Knight, Peter Harrison Knight, Jonathan Scofield Knight, Ashley Barbara Purisima, Kristen Virginia Purisima, Colin Eldridge Knight, and Evan Andrew Knight. She is also survived by two sisters, Nancy R. Wells, and Mary-Christine Richards Wilkinson (her husband Paul Wilkinson), and her two brothers, Charles Taylor Richards and Dalton Vaughn Richards Jr. Born in Roanoke, Virginia she was the daughter of Dalton Vaughn Richards Sr. and Virginia Turner Richards. She was later adopted at age 11 after the death of her mother by Jack and Chris Price of Rocky Mount, VA. She attended Hollins College and Roanoke Memorial Hospital and achieved her R.N., Registered Nurse designation where she also served her internship along her future husband to be OBGYN Frank S. Knight Sr. from Johnson City, Tennessee. They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and then to Atlanta, Georgia for several years where they both worked at Grady Memorial Hospital (also where Sutton and Chris were born). Bobbie and Frank then relocated to Richmond, VA where they had two more wonderful children (Julie and Alex) and lived most of their lives. She also pursued voice training at University of Richmond and later got certified in Therapeutic Counseling at VCU. They were members of Stratford Hills United Methodist Church and Willow Oaks Country Club for most of their lives. Both served out their careers as medical professionals at several local hospitals in Richmond. Bobbie at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pediatrics and later at Richmond Metropolitan as a nurse helping chemically dependent patients. Most of her later adult life she spent loving and raising her children and grandchildren. After her husband’s retirement they divided time between Richmond and their beach home in the North end of Virginia Beach. Bobbie was a devoted wife, a devoted follower of Jesus, and a dedicated and loving mother and grandmother. She truly loved people, cats, great music of all kinds but especially Vocal Jazz and Rhythm and Blues, sports – like Hokie football and basketball, and professional tennis and golf. She enjoyed writing her memoirs and reading great books and influenced everyone in her family with that passion. She really loved a good cheeseburger, and the beach and ocean especially. Bobbie was an overcomer and emerged victorious in all her battles. She was also an excellent golfer and golf partner for her husband in her younger years. But her highest passion, love, and calling was for her family. Her beauty and charm, her fiery spirit, funny sayings, generosity, warm smiles and hugs and kisses will be sorely missed by all who knew her and called her a friend. But we will see her again when we are all together in God’s great Kingdom by and by! A Celebration of her life will be held next Sunday, September 23rd, at 2 PM at Bon Air United Methodist Church located at 1645 Buford Road, Richmond, VA 23235. Memorial donations/in lieu of flowers may be made to Dementia Foundation/Spark of Life.