F. James "Jim" Knight

F. James “Jim” Knight, 91, of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, passed peacefully on March 3, 2026. A man of character and leadership, he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Jim was born on May 14, 1934, in Lansing, Michigan, the son of Harold and Marie Knight. As a child, his family built and operated a small summer resort in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula along the shore of Lake Michigan. Those youthful years of hard work and laughter amid the wide blue skies and deep forests of the UP helped shape his lifelong love of nature, science, and adventure. After graduating from high school in St. Ignace, Michigan, in 1952, he served two years in the U.S. Army before earning a degree in Geological Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

In 1957 Jim married Virgean Rightmyer of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Together they shared a wonderful 56-year life of love and adventure until her death in 2013. They were devoted parents and role models, deeply proud of their children and grandchildren. Jim is survived by their four children: Michael Knight (Julia) of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Kathryn Ryan (Bill) of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania; Karen Reynolds (Greg) of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; and Christopher Knight (Carrie) of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; his brother Rex Knight of Woodinville, Washington; his sister Carol Tonne of Republic, Washington; and his devoted wife, Penny Knight of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

After earning a Master’s in Geotechnical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines in 1963, Jim joined Gannett Fleming, Inc. in Harrisburg, where he built a distinguished 34-year career. He advanced from Engineering Geologist to Executive Vice President and member of the company’s Board of Directors. He served as President of the Harrisburg Chapter of Professional Engineers and the statewide PSPE, and remained active in the Masons, Paxtang Lions Club, and especially Paxton Presbyterian Church, where for more than 50 years he served as an Elder and in countless other roles with quiet dedication.

Jim was an avid sailor who shared many adventures with Virgean on the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes, and occasionally in the Caribbean. In retirement they sailed their boat KNIGHTWIND from the Chesapeake through the Erie Canal to Northern Michigan, an unforgettable journey that led to many more summers on the Great Lakes and walks along the beaches of their childhoods. Following Virgean’s death, Jim married Penny Moore, with whom he shared a deep connection through Paxton Church and more than ten years of travel, new friendships, and life together at Masonic Village in Elizabethtown.

Jim will be remembered as a great father, friend, and mentor, known for his leadership, intellectual curiosity, and profound love for his family and the waters that always felt like home.