William Kelly McKnight

ARLINGTON -- William Kelly McKnight, 87, died peacefully at home on Monday, April 23, 2012. Funeral: 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 30, at First Baptist Church, 300 South Center St., Arlington, Dr. Charles Wade and Wayne Ogle officiating. Interment: Parkdale Cemetery, Arlington. Visitation: The family will receive friends 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Kelly was born April 6, 1925, to Will A. McKnight and Mabel Kelly McKnight. The McKnight family was a pioneer Arlington family, as his great-grandmother and her six children moved from East Texas to Johnson Station in 1869. Kelly graduated from Arlington High School in 1943. He joined the U.S. Army in 1944 and served his country in Saipan during World War II. After returning home from the war in 1946 he married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca Farmer. He opened his first gas station in 1948 and bought his first wrecker in 1958 which started Kelly McKnight Wrecker Service. In 1965 he moved to his current location. He served as president and was active in the business until 2005. He also supported the towing industry on a state and national level through TTSA and TRAA where he served in numerous capacities. Kelly was a member of First Baptist Church of Arlington for over 60 years. Kelly was preceded in death by his parents, Will and Mabel McKnight; sister, Peggy Simmons; brother, Tom McKnight; and grandson, William Kyle McKnight. Survivors: His wife of 65 years, Rebecca; daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca A. and Hershey Muse of Conroe; son and daughter-in-law, William E. "Bill" and Becky McKnight of Mansfield; granddaughter, LeighAnn and husband, Toby Yeary of Mansfield; great-grandchildren, Sembree Lynn Yeary and Will Ryan Blake Yeary of Mansfield; sister, Ann Truver of Arlington; and numerous nieces and nephews. Wade Family Funeral Home Arlington, 817-274-9233