James Knapp, 94, was World War II veteran

James Knapp, 94, of Manchester, Glen Head and Hancock, N.Y., and Winter Haven, Fla., died June 30 at his lake home with family. He was the widower of Elizabeth (Nichols) Knapp, to whom he was married for 69 years.

Mr. Knapp was born March 23, 1918, in Cleveland, the son of the late Clara Ann Jaeger and Leonard Wight Knapp.

A World War II veteran, he served aboard the Navy destroyer escort USS Tatum. He was honorably discharged with the rank of lieutenant commander.

Mr. Knapp was a graduate of Hofstra University, where he met his wife, and later attended Columbia University.

He was employed by Dunn and Bradstreet in New York, CBS Lab in Stamford and Perkin Elmer in Norwalk, where he was instrumental in designing the lens for the Hubble Telescope.

Mr. Knapp retired and moved to Florida, where he enjoyed tennis, chess, softball and traveling the world with his wife.

He was a member of the Rotary Club, which enabled him to travel to Australia.

Mr. Knapp is survived by two daughters, the Rev. Dr. Phyllis Norman, and her husband, Carl, of Prospect; and Kathryn Reynolds, and her husband, Ken, of Natick, Mass.; a son, David Knapp, of Torrington; a brother, Phillip Knapp, and his wife, Viola, of Sherman; six grandchildren, Christopher Wuestefeld and wife Cathy, of Milford, N.J.; Kirsten Berube and husband Paul, of Watertown; William Reynolds and wife Brenda, of Harwinton; Robert Reynolds, of Salem, Mass.; Matthew Knapp, of Torrington; and Gregory Knapp, of Torrington; five great-grandchildren, Justine, Mallory, Madeline, James and Natalie. He was predeceased by a sister, Marilyn Campbell.

A memorial service with full military honors presented will take place Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Prospect Congregational Church, 25 Center St.

Burial was in Hancock, N.Y. There are no calling hours.

The Buckmiller Brothers Funeral Home in Prospect was in charge of arrangements.