Robert D. Knowles | Manager, 57

Robert D. Knowles, 57, of Havertown, a former transportation operations manager, died of cancer Nov. 21 at home.

For 20 years, Mr. Knowles worked for Sheridan Transportation Inc. in Philadelphia, supervising the shipment of commodities up and down the East Coast. Then, for five years, he was office manager for Kunz-Powell & Associates in Malvern, an electrical supplies manufacturer's representative. Recently, he worked for Phelan, Hallinan & Schmieg, a law firm in Philadelphia.

Mr. Knowles graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland.

He was a former coach for Westgate Hills T-ball in Havertown; served on the Lawrence Park Swim Club board of directors for seven years; and was a lector, member of the parish council, and past president of the home and school association at Sacred Heart Church in Havertown. For more than 20 years, he and his wife, Barbara Jo Toth Knowles, were active in the pre-Cana marriage preparation program at the church.

In addition to his wife of 30 years, Mr. Knowles is survived by daughters Bethany Antell and Gwen; a son, Matthew; two sisters; and three brothers.

A Funeral Mass was said Nov. 23 at Sacred Heart Church, Havertown. Burial was in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.