William E. “Bill” Knight, 87, died Feb. 27, 2004, at Careage of Whidbey after a lengthy illness.

He was born May 31, 1916, in Spokane to Charles A. Knight and Ethel May Root Knight, the second of six children. He grew up in the Puget Sound area, mainly Seattle and Edmonds. He joined the Coast Guard in 1935 and made a 20-year career of it. While stationed in Bandon, Ore., he met Wanda M. Allen and they were married on June 8, 1938. After retiring from the Coast Guard, he finished high school, went to college at the University of Washington, earning his degree and becoming a junior high school art teacher in the Seattle School District. He later sold insurance and mutual funds.

In 1971, he and his wife moved to South Whidbey, where he sold real estate, did volunteer work at Help House, drove ambulance for Whiteacres, was president of the Island County Council on Aging, helped establish Senior Services of Island County, was island County campaign director for the March of Dimes, and held the first March of Dimes Walkathon on South Whidbey in 1977. He was a member of the American Legion, the Lions Club, the Grange and the Masons.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters; Wanda, his wife of 56 years; and Bernice Davis Knight, his wife of two years.

He is survived by children Nancy (Chuck) Hern of Clinton, son Bill (Bonnie) Knight of Anacortes, and son Rick Knight of Seattle. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Jon Volz and sons Danny and Christopher of Clinton; Rob (Andrea) Volz and children Dylan and Kara of Clinton; Charlene (Scott) Smith of Langley; Bill (CaryAnne) Knight of Mountlake Terrace; and Shauntina (Bill) Pope and children Braden and Kenlee of Everett. He is also survived by special friend Dorothy McCann of Freeland.

A memorial will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland at 2 p.m. on Saturday.