KNOX, Stephen Rhea "Steve" - b. October 5, 1949 - d. July 1, 2012

[Janet Harrington]

Stephen Rhea "Steve" Knox of Piedmont, Kansas, died on Sunday, July 1, 2012 at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka, Kansas at the age of 62.  Steve was born on October 5, 1949 in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Robert and Mildred (Rhea) Knox.  

He was raised in Piedmont, graduating high school in Severy, Kansas.  After his schooling, Steve attended the College of Emporia. In college he played baseball and football.  He also worked for IBP Processing and on the family ranch.  He later worked for Kote and KFDI radio as a DJ.  Steve also drove a school bus in Eureka.  He was a volunteer Fire Chief in Piedmont and had his own fireworks company called Children of the Night Fireworks.  He worked at Boeing for several years including being assigned to work on Air Force One before his retirement.  

On February 14, 1974 he was united in marriage to Vickie F. Fife in Severy, Kansas.  This marriage later ended in divorce.  He was a member of the Piedmont Christian Church, Masonic Lodge #155,  the Western Music Association of Kansas, and the National Fireworks Association.

He is survived by four children:  Stephanie Sampson of Goddard, Kansas, Robie Bartolotta of Genessee Depot, Wisconsin,  Robert M. Knox II of Eureka, Kansas, and Daniel Knox of Eureka, Kansas;  nine grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and one brother, Murray Knox of Piedmont, Kansas.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, July 4, 2012 at Koup Family Funeral Home, 121 N. Oak Street, Eureka, Kansas.  Interment will follow at Piedmont Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to Masonic Lodge #155.  Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which was in charge of service arrangements.

(Taken from the Koup Family Funeral Home website)