Donald Wayne Knight III, 29, went to be with Jesus his Lord and Savior Sunday, June 2, 2013. He was living in Phoenix, Ariz.
His funeral will be at Rainbow Presbyterian Church on Monday. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., with the funeral service being held at 1 p.m. Pastor Rev. Robbie Hendrick will officiate. Burial will be in the National Cemetery in Montevallo with full military honors. Crestwood Memorial Funeral Home will direct services.
Wayne was a Staff Sgt/Crew Chief on an F-15 Fighter Bomber in the United States Air Force. He served three tours in Saudi Arabia (Shock and Awe), Kirkuk, Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and in Afghanistan. After receiving an honorable discharge, he moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where he graduated from Universal Technical Institute in May 2011 with highest honors. He also attended the University of Phoenix.
He is survived by his daughter, Kaylee Knight; his parents, Wayne and Martha Knight; biological father, Donald Wayne Knight Jr.; biological mother, Carrie Peters Knight; sisters and brothers, Lane Knight, John Mark (April) Knight, Michele (Shelle) Knight, Paul Henderson, Robert Jeffery Knight and Jonathan Knight; niece, Ashton Henderson; and nephew, Taylor Henderson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Child Evangelical Fellowship (Good News Clubs), P.O. Box 1578, Gadsden, AL 35902; or Etowah Pregnancy Testing Center, 119 Church St., Gadsden, AL 35906.
Pallbearers will be Lane Knight, John Mark Knight, Jonathan Knight, Donald Lundeen, Robert Eagley and Jeremy Vice.
We give special thanks to the V.A. Administration in Birmingham for helping us coordinate his military burial, which will be on Tuesday at 1:15 p.m. in Montevallo at the National Cemetery.