This month our Chapter lost two special people: former Chapter Executive Bob Knutsen and member Walter Votaw, Votaw Precision Technologies. Here is some information about their lives and passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends.
Bob Knutsen
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Norwegian immigrant parents, Bob Knutsen grew up with an older brother and younger sister. His benevolence was first exhibited when he earned the honor of becoming an Eagle Scout. As a proud American, Bob joined the Navy and was among the crew of the USS St. Paul in the Pacific. He was so honored to receive recognition as WWII Vet when he wore his Navy or WWII caps almost everyday during the last several years. Shortly after the war ended, he met Shirley Clark when she was just 17. They were married just four months later and continued to cherish each other through the celebration of their 63rd anniversary in June. Mom told us, "l-ty first love lasted a lifetime," Their lives were joyfully intertwined through work, boating, Catalina, golf, camping trips, cruises, and parties. Dad was an affectionate, thoughtful father with a soft heart that left the discipline to Mom. He enjoyed teaching his grandchildren how to make various gifts without realizing that he also taught them patience and generosity. But, most of all Mom and Dad have taught all of us unconditional love, which includes forgiveness. On his last birthday, his first great-grandchild, Brooke, was born followed a couple of months later by his second, Mateo. He loved kissing those babies and continuing that legacy of love.
Bob and his brother-in-law, Vaughn Clark (LA Chapter Past President) took over Vaughn’s father's tool & die shop when he died in about 1953 it was called Peerless Engineering Co. in South Gate. They both worked in the shop from the bottom up. The sold the shop when the union wanted to make it a closed shop. They started a new business in Santa Ana called Mill-A-Matic. It was the first Automatic Milling Machine shop west of the Mississippi. That business struggled for about 3 years and then they sold the machines and rented the building. Bob was the Executive Director of the LA Chapter from 1969 - 2004.
Walter Votaw
Votaw, Walter Harold 83, October 6, 1925 - September 28, 2009 Walter Harold (Sonny) Votaw was the only son of Walter and Rhetta Votaw...
Click on the image above to link to the article at Orange County Register.
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