Vodell Stewart Knight

Vondell Stewart Knight, 90, passed away Saturday, March 31, 2012, in Houston, Texas. She was born August 3, 1921, in Bosqueville, McClennan County, Texas, in her paternal grandfather's home to Otis Otto and Nettie Mae (Wells) Stewart. She was the oldest of three children. She married Wallace Joseph Knight, CLU in October, 1949. He preceded her in death in November, 1983. Vondell graduated salutatorian from Angleton High School in 1938 and upon graduation received a one year scholarship to Baylor University. After two years at Baylor, she attended the University of Houston and graduated from Jefferson Davis Hospital School of Medical Technology with a degree in Medical Technology. After passing the national exam given by The American Society of Clinical Pathologists, she was certified as a Registered Medical Technologist. She first worked at Memorial Hospital and during World War II was a civilian employee in the medical laboratory at Ellington Air Force Base, Houston, Texas. In 1947, she was elected president of The Texas Society of Medical Technologists. In 1949, she was appointed convention chairman of The American Society of Medical Technologists. She quit working after John and Joe were born and became a stay-at-home mom. During that time she served as the PTA president of Hartsfield Elementary School. When Bill was in the third grade, she went back to work at Houston Diagnostic Laboratory in the Hermann Professional Building in Houston, Texas. She worked there for many years until her retirement. Vondell attended all of her sons' baseball and basketball games even though she hated sports. She even went to quite a few of her grandchildren's basketball, volleyball, and soccer games. She also attended all of the Friday night high school football games, where she "patiently" waited for half-time so that she could see her boys perform in the marching band. She also attended numerous band concerts and stage band contests when the boys were in junior high, high school, and college. When her grandchildren began performing in choir, she attended their concerts. She always enjoyed the music unless she thought it was too "rumped" up, her term for music played too loud or too fast. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Before the days of Internet access, using microfilm, "snail mail" and the telephone, she researched her side of the family back to Scotland and Wallace's family back to what is now Nova Scotia. Vondell enjoyed travelling and she and Wallace took trips together all over the United States and Canada. There was hardly a family vacation that didn't include a side trip to a cemetery where a possible relative was buried. Vondell is survived by three sons: Joseph Stewart Knight and wife, Glenna, Richmond, Texas; John Wallace Knight and wife, Jenifer, Sugarland, Texas; and William David Knight and wife Jo Ellen, Denton, Texas. She was known as "Daydell" to her grandchildren: David Knight and wife, Bridget, Mustang, Oklahoma; Shannon Deer and husband, Ryan, College Station, Texas; Katherine Myers and husband, Robert, Denton, Texas; Kristin Dickerson and husband, Troy, Richmond, Texas; Joanna Piatt and husband, Jacob, Denton, Texas; Jason Knight, Sugarland, Texas; and Jessica Knight, College Station, Texas. She is also survived by four great grandchildren, Turner Dickerson, Kynslee Knight, Dylan Myers and Tillman Dickerson. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wallace; her sister, Anita Goggans; and her brother, Rotan Stewart. A grave side service will be held at Bosqueville Cemetery, April 6, 2012, at 2:00 PM. Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of Vodell Stewart Knight (Stewart), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. Service Information Friday, April 6th, 2012 2:00pm, Bosqueville Cemetery Waco, TX 76708 Interment Location Bosqueville Cemetery Waco, TX 76708