Ray Knighton

March 18, 1932 - May 13, 2016

Dorman Ray Knighton, 84 years old, born March 18, 1932 in Jasper County, TX, passed away on May 13, 2016 in Groves, TX at Magnolia Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Ray joined the U.S. Army at age 15, in 1948, and he was a paratrooper in the 86nd Airborne. He trained new troops for jumping out of planes for the Korean War until he retired after four years of service in 1952.

Ray worked at South Western Bell Telephone Company for 43 years from 1952 to 1995. He was a church member and elder of Park Central Church of Christ in Port Arthur, Texas.

Ray Knighton is preceded in death by his father, Robert Reagan Knighton, and mother, Leona Lewis Knighton, as well as his brothers, Robert David Knighton and Earl Thomas Knighton.

Ray Knighton is survived by his wife of 63 years, Shirley Miller Knighton of Port Arthur, TX; his son, Kim Knighton of Port Arthur, TX; his granddaughter, Heather Knighton of Port Arthur, TX; his brother, Lamar Knighton of Jasper, TX; his sisters Pauline Russell of Magnolia, TX and Brenda Faye Behannon of Jasper, TX.

In honor of Ray Knighton, donations may be made to Park Central Church of Christ, 3901 Jimmy Johnson Blvd, Port Arthur, TX 77642.

A 2:30 PM funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home, with a gathering of family and friends from 12:30 PM until service time. Entombment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park.