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ABCUSA: Former ABC Missionary to China and the Philippines, Lester Knox, Dies


From "Jayne, Andy" <Ajayne@ABC-USA.org>
Date Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:04:13 -0500

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 01/30/07)-James Lester Knox, former missionary to China and Philippines for 18 years, died January 17, 2007, in Bozeman, Montana at the age of 87.

Knox was born in Youngstown, Ohio and earned degrees in electrical engineering from three universities (a B.S. from the University of Tennessee, an M.S. from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University). After teaching at the university level and working in industry, Lester enrolled in Colgate Rochester Divinity School to prepare for mission work. Elizabeth and Lester were married on March 19, 1946 in Pennsylvania. They had five children.

The Knoxes were appointed as missionaries of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society in June 1947 and sailed for China in September 1947. He taught electronics and engineering at the University of Shanghai. They were evacuated from China in 1948 because of the war, and he was reassigned to teach at Central Philippine University. He taught engineering, mathematics and chemistry, advised in the reconstruction of the school, served as dean of the College of Engineering, and assisted in setting up a religious broadcasting station. In addition, he directed the choir of the Central Philippine University Church. They returned to the States in 1965.

Upon returning to the U.S., Knox served as a professor at Montana State University in Bozeman and did extension service at the University of Petroleum and Minerals at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Elizabeth died in 1982, and Knox married Anna Goins eleven years later. In retirement, Lester did volunteer work for the Peace Corps and Habitat for Humanity and spent several months in La Paz, Bolivia installing a generator in the Christian radio station there. At Central Philippine University's Centennial Celebration in 2005, the man was honored for his lifetime of service.

Knox is survived by his wife, Anna Goins Knox; his five children, Thomas L. Knox, Stephen W. Knox, Susan Benson, Patricia Shadoan, and Linda Ann Knox; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren; his brother, Fred and sister, Mable.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2007, at 2 p.m. at Aspen Pointe, Bozeman, MT. Messages of condolence can be sent to Anna Knox, Aspen Pointe, 1201 Highland Boulevard, Bozeman, MT 59715. Memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity or International Ministries, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482.

Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/


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