Karl Gaston Knowles, age 87, passed from this mortal plane peacefully the evening of February 18 in Atlanta's Piedmont Hospital, attended by family at his bedside after a series of illnesses He is survived by his older sister, Helen Knowles Sutliff; nephews, Richard Sutliff (Gail), Robert Morris Knowles, Jr. (Kathy), Alan Wayne Knowles, James Woodruff (June), Dan Woodruff (Nellie); niece, Gail Sutliff Williams (Ron). Extended family includes Susan Sutliff Shipley (Jason), Melissa Sutliff Floyd (Ernie) and their three children, Brice, Barrett and Vera, Eryn Sutliff, Jennifer Sutliff McCollough (Seth) and a special friend, Thelma O'Dell. A life-long bachelor, he leaves no descendants.

He was born December 23, 1926 in Montgomery, Alabama where he grew up. A WW II veteran, he was inducted into the U.S. Army after graduation from high school and served honorably until his discharge in December 1946. After release he began a 20 year career as a civilian employee of the Army Air Corp (later U.S. Air Force) at what is now Maxwell AFB working as a pioneer in data processing. Subsequently, he moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area where he held a number of management positions prior to retirement. His later years were spent at Calvin Court in Atlanta's Buckhead area where he served several "terms" as its unofficial "mayor."

A baptized believer since his youth, he was no stranger to Christian service and served a number of years as a deacon at Buckhead Baptist Church.

Graveside burial services with military honors were held on Saturday, March 1, in Ramer, Alabama, where he now sleeps with his ancestors. A memorial/life celebration service is planned for a later date in Atlanta, Georgia.

Published in the Montgomery Advertiser on Mar. 2, 2014