John “Jack” Franklin Knowles of Seaford passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, surrounded by his family, at the home that he and his father built in Woodland, the only place he ever wanted to be. He was born on Jan. 8, 1942, in Lewes, son of the late Henry L. Knowles Jr. and Margaret V. (Hastings) Knowles.

A lifelong Seaford resident, Jack was a 1960 graduate of Seaford High School. On June 23, 1962, he married the love of his life, Carolyn Collins in Salisbury and they would spend sixty wonderful years together raising a beautiful family and creating precious memories. He enjoyed a career with DuPont in Seaford, for more than 35 years, as a Section Engineer in Staple Polymer. It was a career that was both challenging and fulfilling.

He was a man that had many talents and hobbies. He was known as a “jack of all trades,” and those that knew him would attest that if he couldn’t fix it, it wasn’t worth fixing at all. At the age of five, Jack started shad fishing with his grandfather and that became his lifelong passion. In 2006, he was named DNREC volunteer of the year for his work repopulating the shad population in the Nanticoke. He served as a weighmaster of striped bass for the state of Delaware.

 He was a collector of all things about the Nanticoke River, Woodland, DuPont, and his own family. He collected these in his personal museum called “Days Gone By.” It was open for anyone to come see. His faith was a pillar in his life, and he served in various positions at Woodland Methodist Church, which he attended all his life. Each year he participated in Walk MS, a fundraising event for those afflicted with MS, in honor of his daughter, Kelly. His devotion to his family, took precedence above all. Those that knew him would say “Still waters run deep.” He was a gentle, soft-spoken man who loved his family and to know him was to love him. Jack was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend and he will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune to know him.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Knowles; his daughters Kelly Griffith (Timothy Scott), and Kim Cook (Rich); his grandchildren Katey Davidson and husband Jay Davidson, Christopher Asselin, Kristian Vojtko (Cody), and Alexa Griffith (Robert BeCraft), and his great-grandchildren: Avery and Jay Wyatt, and Josey Davidson.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. at Woodland United Methodist Church, 5123 Woodland Church Road in Seaford, where friends may call beginning at 1 p.m. Interment will follow the services at 3 p.m. at Woodland United Methodist Cemetery.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic social distancing protocols, wearing masks is strongly encouraged to everyone participating in the service.

Jack’s family would like to thank the staff at Vitas Hospice for their loving and compassionate care during his illness.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson-Yates Funeral Home and Crematorium, 609 East King Street in Seaford.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Jack’s memory to the Woodland United Methodist Church, 5123 Woodland Church Rd., Seaford, DE 19973.

Please visit Jack’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at www.watsonyatesfuneralhome.com.