Charles Edward Knight

Charles Edward “Ed” Knight was born on December 31, 1938, in Baltimore, Maryland to Alfred A. and Frances C. Carnes Knight. He died at home with Marguerite holding his hand on March 12, 2024.

Ed graduated from Dundalk High School in 1956 and continued his education at the University of Maryland, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design. He retained his lifelong love of Maryland and his alma mater.

Shortly after college, he entered military service as an officer in the United States Air Force. Ed was selected for radar and celestial navigation training in the Air Force T-29 classroom. He ascended to the rank of Captain and became one of the first navigators on the B52 Stratofortress. He served as Radar Navigator in the 7th Bombardment Wing. Capt. Knight earned the Air Medal in 1965 for his bravery in the Vietnam conflict.

On April 11, 1964, he married the love of his life and fellow officer, Marguerite E. Sweeney in Calgary, Alberta, CA. Ed and Marguerite would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in April.

In 1967, he moved from Carswell Air Force with his two daughters and wife to Baltimore where Ed completed a degree in architecture at the University of Maryland. He returned in 1973 to Texas to raise his family in Denton while working as an architect in the DFW area. Over his career, he developed an expertise in hospital projects culminating at University of Texas Southwestern where he managed construction of several research buildings and the initial construction of Clements University Hospital.

Since retirement, he remained active in gardening, volunteering at Christ the King church, watercolor painting, exercising, and dining with friends.

Ed is survived by his wife, Marguerite; two sisters, Frances Parker (Dundalk, MD) and Bennetta Magagna (The Villages, FL); two daughters, Sara Knight Barber (Richardson, TX) and Jennifer Vernino and husband, Steve (Dallas, TX); five grandchildren, Dane Chronister and wife, Caroline (US Air Force — San Angelo, TX), Christopher Vernino (Leander, TX), Megan Vernino (Kalamazoo, Ml), Drew Chronister and wife, Blaire (Houston, TX) and Alexandra Vernino (Dallas, TX); and great-granddaughter Nellie Chronister. Ed was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Arthur Knight.

Memorial Mass will begin at 1pm on Thursday, April 4, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 8017 Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75225. Ed will be interred with military honors at the DFW National Cemetery in a private family ceremony. Any donations in honor of Ed may be made to the Autonomic Disorders Program - https://engage.utsouthwestern.edu/donate-adp