Ronald Warren Knox

Ronald Warren Knox, of Hockessin, DE, passed away June 28, 2022 at the age of 88.

Ron was born Ronald Warren Hirsch to Margaret Edith Karkruff Hirsch and Hans Gottfried Hirsch in Syracuse, NY in 1933. He was the older of two boys. His younger brother, Matthew (born Harvey George), arrived 2.5 years later.

Chip, as he was then called, spent his childhood around the New York City area. Over several summers, he, his mother, and his brother sailed to Cuba to stay with his grandparents, Hans’s parents, who had immigrated there several years prior from Germany. Those long trips on the ship planted a lifelong love of the sea. At a young age, following the divorce of his parents, his mother married James Allen Knox, who adopted both boys.

After a semester at Syracuse University, Ron enlisted in the Navy and later enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, as an NROTC student. He graduated in 1958 with a degree in Management Engineering and was a member of Theta Xi Fraternity. At RPI, he received commendations for his talents as captain of the U.S. Navy ROTC Drill Team. He then served in active duty stationed in Norfolk, VA for three years, including six weeks at GITMO, followed by six months in the Mediterranean on the USS Massey DD778 destroyer.

Ron left active duty in 1961, moving to the Delaware Naval Reserve. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Ron held top secret clearance in anticipation of possible military actions. He rose to the rank of Commander of the USNR before retiring in 1981. As a Reservist, Ron excelled at the recruitment of enlistees. He also spent time in New Orleans developing and writing officer training manuals. Ron held the high honor of serving as Naval Aide to Delaware’s Governor Pete du Pont during both terms of du Pont’s tenure, from 1977-1985. During this time, he had the opportunity to escort Elizabeth Taylor to a political reception attended by du Pont and her then-husband, John Warner, former US Senator of VA.

Ron was proud of his service in the Navy, and those times were a frequent topic of conversation in recent years. His wife, Lilah, set up a wonderful display of his Navy memorabilia in the family room, and Ron would proudly show it off to all his guests. For his 85th birthday, Lilah, his daughters Kathi and Kelly, and Kelly’s husband Jeff, took him to Washington DC for Veteran’s Day to see Arlington Cemetery and the legendary Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. He proudly wore his Naval cap with all its “scrambled eggs” and was saluted all weekend. There were many proud moments as so many people approached and thanked him for his service.

In 1960, Ron married Phyllis Wiley, who survives, and they had 3 children together. During these years, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, sailing, and golf at the Newark Country Club. He also possessed a love of building and fixing things, which he instilled in his children. He loved jazz and classical guitar, and he could play trombone and piano by ear. He was actively involved in Chapel Street Players, a community theater in Newark, where he both performed and directed various plays for many years. He was an avid reader and a member of MENSA. He also enjoyed working the New York Times crossword for many years, a love of which he gained from his mother.

Ron worked for Elliott Service Company for many years, selling workplace encouragement and motivational materials. Later, he successfully completed the NIFTA Series 7 exam and earned the general securities representative license. He worked with Legg Mason and Dean Witter among other firms, and for himself as Chesapeake Income Advisors, before retiring.

Later in his life, following his divorce in 2002, Ron began searching for a higher purpose in life. Following a visit to his daughter Kelly, who encouraged him to find a church family, he began attending Covenant Fellowship Church (“CovFel”), where he met the love of his life, Lilah.

Ron and Lilah met during a Christmas play performance at CovFel where Ron was directing, and Lilah was playing piano. Nine months and three conversations later, Ron mentioned a piano recital at a church in Wilmington, which Lilah misunderstood as an “FYI.” Following an email asking her to dinner afterwards, Lilah finally realized this was an actual first date. It was during their second date at Longwood Gardens, in the Orchid Gallery, they realized marriage was in their future.

The years following saw Ron and Lilah traveling often for business or pleasure, visiting family, many Caribbean islands, and the Outer Banks. They even went to Spain on a C-5, courtesy of the US Air Force!

They continued to serve in the Bridge Course and Greeters Team at CovFel, as well as performing in annual Christmas Classics Concerts.

Even as he suffered from Alzheimer’s, Ron always enjoyed watching the birds outside, and he could still play a mean game of Gin!

Ron was moved to The Summit for memory care in Hockessin in April, 2022, where he was a hit with the staff. On June 10, he was admitted to Christiana Care, where he was transferred to Hospice care a week before he passed. The staff in Hospice were wonderful and kind in his final days, and their dedication is specially recognized.

Ron is survived by his wife of 15 years, Lilah M. Knox; his brother Matthew Knox; his three children, Kathleen Knox Mallet-Prevost (George), Kelly Knox Kraft (Jeffrey) and James Warren Knox (Kristin); his 7 grandchildren, Edward Hammond II, Timothy Hammond Jr., Jeffrey Kraft Jr., Robert Kraft, Marielle Kraft, Connor Knox, and Alyson Knox. Also surviving are his stepmother Lucia Hirsch, half-sisters Gretchen Hirsch and Jacqueline LaScala, many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends and church family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Veterans of Foreign Wars, Nature Conservancy, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, or Covenant Fellowship Church “The Bridge Course”.