Obituary of Lt. Colonel Kenneth E. Knight, Jr.

Kenneth E. Knight, 74, of Lexington, SC, passed away on October 13, 2022 after a battle of metastatic brain melanoma.

He was born on December 9, 1947 in Atlanta, GA. He was a son, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, husband, great-grandfather, uncle, soldier, and friend. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from UGA and Master’s in Education from USC (Carolina). Ken retired after 37 years in both active and civilian military Army service with multiple honors including flight aviation. 

He is the son of the late Command Sergeant Major Kenneth E. Knight, Sr. and Melba C. Knight.

Surviving are his wife Relda Cox Knight; daughters, Valerie Knight of Lexington, SC, Amy McVeigh and Michael Nichols of Lexington, SC, Natalie (Ben) Montgomery of Sedona, Arizona. Step-father to Radley Braxton Grubbs (Dani) of Savannah, GA, Robin Nale of Maryville, TN, and Rhonda (Tommy) Tye of Athens, GA. He is a grandfather to 15 grandchildren and grandfather to 4 great grands and 1 on the way. Brother to Cindy Guidry of Augusta, GA, Marcia (Les) Connell of Rome, GA, Bary (Debbie) Fleet of Warwick, RI.; and uncle to many nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by wife of 51 years, Patricia Jean Fleet Knight; brothers, John and Mark Knight; and brother-in-law, Michael Guidry. 

He was such a mentor to everyone he met. His kindness and compassion impacted so many lives. He truly had a servant’s heart and showed others daily his love of Jesus through his words and actions. He leaves a magnificent legacy. Our hero on earth will be greatly missed and will live on in each of us whose lives he impacted greatly! Kenneth E. Knight, Jr. “Fought the good fight.” 

Visitation and Funeral Services for Kenneth E Knight, Jr. of Lexington, SC, will be the following:

Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park 

845 Leesburg Road

Columbia, SC

The family will be receiving visitors on

Saturday, October 15, 2022

5:00-7:00 p.m.

Funeral Ceremony

Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park

Monday, October 17, 2022

12:00-12:30 p.m. 

Graveside Services with Full Military Honors 

Fort Jackson National Cemetery

Monday, October 17, 2022

1:00 p.m.