William (Bill) Knoph

William Robert Knoph
May 27, 1958 – November 1, 2023

William Robert Knoph, aged 65, of Waco, TX, passed away November 1, 2023 after an extended battle with Leukemia. In honor of his wishes, the family will hold a private memorial at a later date.

Born May 27, 1958, in Andrews, TX to Charles Avon and Bobbie Jean (Horn) Powell. During his childhood/school years, he was known to family and friends as 'Robby Powell.' He was later adopted by his step-father and during his military years he became known as 'Bill Knoph.'

His mother brought him and his older brother to Waco while he was in the first grade. He attended Sanger Elementary and Dean Highland Elementary; Lake Air Jr. High; and graduated from Richfield High in 1976.

At the age of 21, he entered the U.S. Air Force in 1979 for a rewarding 13-year career as an avionics technician. While stationed in England, he met and married the love of his life, Paula, and together they had two sons. After serving in Desert Storm, he received an Honorable Discharge in 1992, and brought his family back home to Waco.

He earned an Associate's Degree from Texas State Technical College in Electronics in 1996, and was employed at L-3 Communications, where he retired in 2018.

He spent his retirement years riding his Harley, doing those never-ending honey-do projects, and tinkering in his workshop. Bill firmly believed that “four wheels moved the body and two wheels moved the soul”.

A 5th generation Texan, he was preceded in death by his mother, Bobbie Jean Knoph; adoptive father F. B. 'Blake' Knoph; biological father Charles Avon Powell; and brother Charles Roger Powell; and his “shadow” Krypto. Bill was a loving husband, caring father and loved his family with all he was.

Surviving him are his wife of 33 wonderful years, Paula Mary (Barrett) Knoph; sons, Blake Sean Knoph and wife Brittany of Teague; and Steven William Knoph and fiancée Frankie of Waco; grandson, Jayden of Dallas; step-grandchildren, Ellie and Carson of Teague; Alexandria, Isabella, and Joseph of Waco; niece Lindsay Powell and nephew Randy Powell, both of Tucson, AZ.

After being diagnosed with a treatable form of Leukemia in 2015, he experienced two relapses when the cancer progressed to an acute stage, each requiring vigorous chemo treatments to obtain remission. He often said that fighting cancer is not only enduring the symptoms of the disease, but also coping with the side effects of the treatment. He was eternally grateful for the never-ending support of his loving wife.

The family would like to thank Dr. James N. Mason and RN Cassandra of Baylor Scott & White/Temple (Oncology), and Community Healthcare of Texas-Providence Hospice for their helpful assistance during his departure.