Kenneth Edwin Knabb passed away October 5, 2016, at the age of 99, at his home in Springfield, surrounded by his beloved wife and family.

He was born December 22, 1916, to Dr. Arthur D. Knabb and Beulah Harlow Knabb in Springfield, Missouri. He attended Boyd Elementary, Pipkin Junior High, and Springfield High School, then did undergraduate work at Drury College and continued at St. Louis University, where he received his medical degree.

He moved to Milwaukee County General Hospital for his internship, where he met his future wife, Lenore Sheffield, who was working there as a physical therapist. Ken and Lenore recently celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.

Following his internship, Dr. Knabb served in the Army Medical Corps in New Guinea and Manilla during World War II. After the war he returned to Springfield, where he practiced family medicine with his father, and later by himself, for over fifty years.

He enjoyed working with his fellow physicians and was president of both Greene County Medical Society and Missouri Family Physicians. He also served as trustee of the YMCA Board for many years, was on the Drury School of Religion Board, and was president of Cox Hospital Board of Directors. He was a devoted member of Central Christian Church his entire life and served there as deacon and elder.

After retiring from private medical practice, Dr. Knabb worked several years for Social Security disability determination, and also volunteered at the Kitchen Medical Clinic.

His interests included golf, bridge, traveling with old friends, and raising cattle. He and Lenore also belonged to several dance clubs. He loved spending time with his family and was always a very kind and thoughtful human being.

Those preceding him in death were his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Arthur D. Knabb, and his siblings, A. Harlow Knabb, Terence D. Knabb, Elizabeth Knabb Roberts, and Mary Margaret Knabb Kennedy.

Dr. Knabb is survived by his wife Lenore; their three children, Kenneth S. Knabb of Berkeley, California, and Kathleen J. Knabb (Don Denton) and Ellen K. Grier (Bill) of Springfield; four grandchildren, Marisa L. Dewey (Dennis), Nathaniel T. Hopkins (Renee), Abigail E. Sylvester (Adam), and David K. Hopkins; great-grandchildren Soren Dewey (Springfield) and Izabella Lenore, Tallula Rose, Mala, Essence, Miliana, Kalia, Makana, Kiana, and Izaia Sylvester (all of Hawaii); and many cherished nephews, nieces, and other family members.

A celebration of Ken's life will take place Tuesday, October 11, 2:00 p.m. at Central Christian Church, 1475 N. Washington at Division, followed by a reception.

Donations in Ken's memory may be given to the Terence D. Knabb Scholarship Fund at Drury University, Culture Club (Central Christian Church's after-school program for Boyd Elementary students), or Seasons Hospice. Online condolences may be left at gormanscharpf.com.