Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

March 6, 2023

Charlotte, North Carolina - Robert Vernon Knight, Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina, age 94, died March 6, 2023 after a brief illness. Born October 27, 1928, Bob was the son of the late Robert Vernon Knight and Ruth Sydnor Dedmon Knight of Tarboro, NC. He was educated in the public schools of Tarboro and graduated from Tarboro High School in 1945.

Bob was a 1949 graduate of Davidson College with a BS degree where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean conflict and rose to the rank of Captain.

After five years with Wachovia Bank N.A. in Winston-Salem and Raleigh, NC, Bob joined Home Finance Group, a predecessor company of American Credit Corporation and Barclays American Corporation. He retired from Barclays American Corporation as Senior Vice President in 1990, after serving thirty-two years with a variety of responsibilities, among them as Director of Administration and Corporate Affairs. After retirement, Bob served as Executive Director of Central Piedmont Community College Foundation for three years.

A firm believer in the importance of a traditional liberal arts education, Bob was a founder of Charlotte Latin School, serving as treasurer and member of the Board of Trustees intermittently for more than two decades. He was also a Deacon of Myers Park Presbyterian Church. Active in both business and civic affairs, Bob was Campaign Chairman and President of Arts and Science Council; Campaign Chairman of Capital Funds Drive of Junior Achievement; President of Friends of UNCC; President of Charlotte Merchants Association; and served on Boards of Directors of United Way, Wing Haven, Charlotte Mecklenburg Seniors Centers, and approximately thirty-five financial trade organizations. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Charlotte Country Club and the Charlotte Rotary Club.

In Bob’s own words, his greatest pride in life was the love and success of his children and four granddaughters. His lifelong hobby was being devoted to and supportive of his many friends of all ages. Many name Bob their single best friend.

Bob epitomized what it means to be a gentleman – charming, spirited, gracious, generous, and humble, with a grand sense of humor.

In 1979 Bob was preceded in death by his first wife of 27 years, Betsy Knott Knight. In 2005 he married Barbara Fehr McManeus, who predeceased him in 2019. Surviving are his daughter, Ruth Knight Gammon and husband Robert Christopher (Chris) Gammon of Charlotte; son John Ruffin Knight and wife Denise Bourassa Knight of New York, NY; four granddaughters, Anne Sydnor Gammon of Charlottesville, VA, Elizabeth Louise (Betsy) Gammon, MD of Nashville, TN, Julia Anne Knight of New York, NY, and Helen Perry Knight, MD and husband Zachary Lawrence (Zach) Baca of Boston, MA.

Also left to cherish Bob’s memory are Barbara’s children, Marcia Teal, Rob McManeus, Cammie Stadler, and Marc McManeus.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, June 9, 2023, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, and live-streamed at www.myersparkpres.org/live . The family will receive friends following the service in Oxford Hall.  A private, family interment was held March 8, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the McIntosh Leadership Center at Charlotte Latin School, checks payable to Charlotte Latin School, 9502 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28277; or to Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte NC 28207.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.