Donald Lee Knighton, 85, passed away at his residence on October 3, 2019. Visitation will be held from 10-11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at the Porter Funeral Home in Lenexa, Kansas. Pastor Bud Jones will officiate. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the Porter Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas.
Don was born on January 19, 1934 in Festus, Missouri to Leslie T and Hallie V Knighton. He was the older brother of Dennis and Sue Knighton Wright.
In 1953, after graduation from Festus High School in 1951, Don enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After completing the Air Cadet Training program and flight training, he served with the Air Force as an active duty pilot for six years.
Upon discharge from the Air Force in 1959, Don attended college at the University of Missouri in Columbia, graduating with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1963. It was during this time that Don met his future wife, Dorothy Jean Morrissey from Topeka, Kansas. They married in June of 1963.
Don began his engineering career with the Allison Engine Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. Around this time, Don enlisted in the Indiana Air National Guard, again serving as a pilot until his discharge in 1966.
In 1966, Don and Dorothy relocated to Overland Park, Kansas where he began his career with Black & Veatch Consulting Engineers. Don worked with Black & Veatch the remainder of his professional career, retiring in 1997 as a partner in the firm.
In his spare time he enjoyed woodworking in his home shop.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Becky and Darlene, and his wife, Dorothy Jean Knighton in 2014.
Don is survived by his immediate family, son, Joseph L Knighton (Susan), Overland Park, KS, son, William T Knighton (Susan Hogarth), Raleigh, NC, and daughter, Karen M Knighton (Skip Wrightson), Cotuit, MA; his brother, Dennis T. Knighton, sister, Sue (Glen) Knighton Wright, and many nephews and cousins.
In-lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center.
Don was independent, and lived on his own, until his last day.