Richard Wayne Knudsen

Richard Wayne Knudsen, of Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025, surrounded by love. Born in Ridley Park, PA, Richard spent the last 45 years of his life in Chester County, where he built a quiet but deeply meaningful life rooted in family, faith,and learning.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kathleen Monahan Knudsen, and his son, David Everett Knudsen. He is survived by his daughter Susan Lewis and her son Ryker Lewis, as well as his son Steven Knudsen, Steven’s wife Bonnie, and their four children: Madelyn, Steven Jr., Alayna, and Kate.

Richard spent 25 proud years working at Boeing as a sheet metal assembler, where he specialized in building and refurbishing Chinook helicopters—work he found both purposeful and rewarding. Outside of his career, he was a lifelong learner and history enthusiast who loved visiting museums and historical sites. Also, a skilled artist whose leatherwork reflected a quiet precision and creative spirit. He was also a movie enthusiast and collector of DVDs, among other things.

A thoughtful and inquisitive conversationalist, Richard enjoyed engaging in deep discussions about a wide range of topics, from politics to movies to history. His sharp memory and encyclopedic knowledge amazed everyone who had the pleasure of speaking with him.

Richard was also a man of deep Christian faith. In his final days, his belief in Christ and in the peace that awaited him brought comfort to his family. During a beautiful day of connection in his last week, he offered both heartfelt goodbyes and loving humor, ending the conversation by reminding everyone to “Be happy, H-A-P-T-Y.”

A private service will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the Gift of Life Donor Program https://www.donors1.org/, in recognition of the life-saving gift he once received.

He was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.