THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408260256
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: JANELLE LA BOUVE
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
Place a call to Clara Knight and John stays on the phone. Ask Clara a question and John is likely to answer it. Each completes the other's sentences.
That's how it is when a couple has been together for almost 56 years.
How did they meet? Well, Clara and John's sister Mary both taught in Deep Creek, he explained. Together the two women rode to school in John's car.
But the first time they met was when Clara and Mary visited John at the shipyard on Navy Day, she said.
``That was on Oct. 27,'' John chimed in. They courted two years, then tied the knot. And if their expressions of endearment are to be trusted, both found the perfect partner.
Was it love at first sight?
``I guess you could call it love at first sight,'' John said. ``It didn't take long.''
And to what do they attribute their happiness?
``It takes a good bit of giving,'' he said.
``We can't always take,'' she said. ``We've got to give.''
``If I had it do all over again, I wouldn't change a thing,'' he said. ``I've been very happy and content. If I were well and in good health, I'd settle for 56 more.''
On Sept. 3 , they'll celebrate anniversary number 56.
Her name: Clara B. Knight
Birthdate: Nov. 5, 1913
Grew up: ``For the first six years, my family lived in Massachusetts. Then we moved down here and lived in Ocean View. Later we moved to Norfolk County.''
Childhood memories: ``The funniest thing was coming down here to go to school. We talked Northern. At school, we'd say something like, `We're gonna play cods (cards)' and everybody would laugh at us. That made us study harder. So I was valedictorian, and my twin brother, Chester Bamforth, was salutatorian.''
Children: Alice, Peggy, John Jr. and Susan
Retired from: ``I taught school in Chesapeake for 30 years - back when you taught everything. I was teaching chemistry and home economics at Deep Creek High School. Then I got married, and they wouldn't let me teach (two years later that ruling was changed). When my fourth child was 2 years old, I went back and taught sixth grade at Coleman Place School and then seventh grade at Norfolk Highlands. For 12 years I taught English at Great Bridge High School and another five years at Indian River Jr. I retired in 1967.''
Hobbies: ``I like to paint and do needlepoint. Right now my eyes are so bad I don't do it much. I mostly paint with acrylics and do gardening.''
Last movie: ``The Lion Tamer''
Can't resist: John
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``I would try to be more sociable. We stick right close to home.''
Greatest accomplishment: ``Raising my four children and having them all married and staying married.''
Favorite TV program: `` `Jeopardy.' That's educational.''
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant: Piccadilly Cafeteria
Biggest problem facing Chesapeake: ``Growing so fast that the city can't keep up with educational needs.''
Favorite way to spend a day: ``Working in my flowers. That's what I like to do. And I like to take care of my great-granddaughter.''
His name: John E. Knight
Birthdate: Aug. 16, 1912
Grew up: In Norfolk
Childhood memories: ``Going to my grandfather's farm and spending my summers in North Carolina. We have a cottage there now on Albemarle Sound. Also going swimming from the time I was about 5 years old in the polluted Elizabeth River. Raw sewage used to empty right into the river. We didn't care. My mother cared. She'd come after me and spank me, but she couldn't keep me out because I loved the water.''
Retired from: ``From Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth as a personnel supervisor.''
Hobbies: ``Gardening. But I'm giving it up after this year.''
Can't resist: Clara
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``I would probably try to do more for others.''
Greatest accomplishment: ``Raising our family.''
Favorite TV program: `` `Jeopardy.' We both like the same things.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Clara and John Knight's hobbies include gardening and watching
``Jeopardy'' together.
KEYWORDS: INTERVIEW PROFILE
by CNB