John Vincent Knox

Name: Visitation
Start: 02/24/2025 10:30 AM
End: 02/24/2025 11:30 AM
Location: Donaldson Funeral Homes

August 30, 1937 — February 6, 2025

J. Vincent “Vince” was born the ninth and youngest child to Dr. Charles W. Knox Sr. and Mary Elizabeth (Fatula) Knox in Sibley hospital in Washington DC, Aug 30, 1937. At the time, the family resided in Cottage City but moved to Laurel, MD while Vince was still an infant, to a farm along Scaggsville Road on the Howard County side of the Patuxent River, where Settler’s Landing now stands. Primarily a chicken farm, they provided eggs to his parish church, St. Mary of the Mills, the convent and St.Mildred’s as well as greater Laurel and the Department of Agriculture for research. It was on Laurelvue Farm where Vincent learned the value of hard work, joy of play, respect for animals and nature, loyalty to family, a love of learning and music, and above all, his Catholic Faith.

He attended St. Mary’s School where he earned a life-long reputation as quite the mischievous prankster with a tremendous sense of humor, often getting him in a bit of trouble with the Pallotine sisters which ultimately endeared him to them. There he learned to serve Christ through his many years as an Altar Boy, learning the Latin Mass and all the responses.

It was also during his youth at local community events, Mass at St Mary’s, casual interaction among local kids and generally just around town that he would catch the eye of a local green-eyed girl, Joyce Smith. Several years later, at thirteen and fifteen years old, their courtship began. From their early teenage years, they recognized something special and a bond was formed that would last for the rest of their lives. They would go on to build a balanced, respectful, active, attentive, “magical” life together and they would continue to hold hands and do just about everything together for over seventy years.

Vincent continued his education at St Mildred’s Academy (now St. Vincent Pallotti High School) graduating in 1955, with the goal of becoming a Maryland State Trooper. He treasured his friendships there, and thoroughly enjoyed fixing, souping up, and street racing hot rods, an interest that continued the rest of his life. Summers were spent doing work with Joyce’s father’s construction company, building homes in the greater metro area. He became an Army reservist and served from July 1959 until Nov 1961.

After graduating from high school, Vince continued to the University of Maryland for a few years while working a variety of jobs, but in 1958 as soon as he turned twenty-one, Vince and Joyce would marry, and a few short months later he was accepted and entered into the Maryland State Police Academy and graduated in 1959.

As a Maryland State Trooper, Vince first served in the K-9 unit with his German Shepherd partner, Trooper, for about ten years. Later, he was a detective and worked with the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division (ASED.) He loved this assignment, in particular because cars were a great hobby of his and it allowed him to combine police work with one of his great passions. Over the years, he owned many different classic cars. For Theresa’s sixteenth birthday, he restored and souped up a 1973 Mustang that she treasures and owns to this day.

A thirty year part-time job with Giant Food in the store(s) on 197 in Laurel, expanded his working world. He worked several departments primarily as a cashier. Along the way he formed friendships with co-workers and regular customers alike.

Vince retired from the MSP as a First Sergeant in 1988 having served twenty-nine years. While his family started and grew he also worked part-time for Giant Food,Inc, retiring around 1998.

Never being one to sit still, he worked several “retirement” jobs after, including driving school bus routes for Howard County. The kids and parents, as usual, adored him presumably for his amazing knack for commanding respect while still having fun.

In their early married years, not yet having children of their own, Vince took much interest and spent time with his numerous nieces and nephews, whom he cared for deeply. They were his first kids and he cherished each and remained close with them throughout his life.

Then 1967 brought blessings to Vince and Joyce with their first baby girl, Mary Elizabeth “Mary B” and in 1970, their second daughter, Theresa Dianne.

Vincent resided in Laurel for the majority of his life. After marrying, Vince and Joyce lived a few years in Woodbine, MD, next to his sister Joann, then in the mid 1960’s moved back to Laurel, to a house on 10th Street in Laurel Hills. In 1976 Joyce designed the house that her father, Chester Smith; uncle, Pat Cunningham and Vince built in High Ridge within eyesight of the original Laurelvue Farm. His brothers Jim and Charles still lived in the neighborhood, as well as many “old” neighbors. All were ready to chat and share the history of the area. He and Joyce raised their two daughters in these two houses in Laurel, and hosted many many large and small gatherings including parties, family reunions, class reunions, holidays, and special events and even a wedding. In 2001,Theresa bought the house next door. While the grandchildren were young, he was always close with family for those sixteen years.

Before ever having the girls, Vince and Joyce started camping with Joyce’s aunt and uncle and would continue by taking the family camping every year after. This continued first in a tent, moving to a pop-up, then a travel trailer and eventually a motorhome. Often traveling with other family members, friends, State Troopers and the girl’s friends were always welcome. For over thirty years the family joined several generations of these, dubbed “the Myrtle Beach Gang” camping from South Carolina to Virginia. When the grandchildren were the perfect age, they treated the family to a three week camping caravan road trip to Disney World.

Vince and Joyce traveled extensively including a cross-country trip to California then up through Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore, stopping along the way to see most of America’s highlights. The motorhome trips included upstate New York, the Florida Keys and New Orleans during Mardi Gras. A three month long trip took them across the states, into Canada and Alaska; navigating through Top of the World Highway, Denali, Chicken, Dawson City and Juneau.

In 2017, Vince and Joyce had a house built in Boonsboro, MD, this time next door to Mary B and family. Here Vince went back to his beginnings in a semi-farm life that he loved, helping care for Mary B’s chickens and goats. He also loved walking their adopted West Highland terrier, Mr. McDougal around the joined properties.

In the Hagerstown area Vince continued his life of faith joining the Church’s men’s group and attending Mass at his new parish. A favorite local event of his was to annually wander “Thunder in the Square,” talking with the car owners and getting to tell family members all about the different cars displayed there. By sight he could tell you the make, model and year of almost any vintage car and what made it different from the previous or next model, and if someone put on the ”wrong” year replacement part.

Vince had natural warmth and strength that radiated from him, endearing him to children and animals alike. He enjoyed getting on the floor to play a good game of cars or outside driving the mower for a kid’s ride in the cart. He loved bringing scraps and treats to Mary B’s chickens and goats, gathering the eggs daily and reminding Mary B of any special need. Everyone’s pets just automatically came to him.

Always a kid at heart, throughout ALL of his years, he was fun. Whether a surprise cannonball into the pool, a good roller coaster ride, a hop on a sled in the snow, a zip line at over eighty years old, driving around exits as fast as possible to hear his daughters giggle, or catching a wave in the ocean, he had fun. He annually still liked to decorate for Christmas, carve pumpkins and dye Easter eggs. The cracked ones were ALWAYS his and ALWAYS made to look like eyeballs. He shamelessly soaked up and enjoyed every moment and interaction that life gave him.

He was also a hard worker. Keeping at least two jobs for most of his adult life. While continuing to work on home improvement and maintenance. He still participated and attended every family event from plays, dances and sports to holidays, religious sacraments and milestones.

His strength commanded respect but made you feel safe, relaxed and valued. He taught that all living things deserve respect and that you should never stop learning or growing. His presence gave you confidence in yourself. He was deceptively physically strong, had a warm smile, a deep voice, a twinkle in his eye always, an infectious laugh, a quick joke, a seriously firm handshake, and an audible hug. He was the perpetual patient prankster, the neighborhood snake wrangler and releaser, and an avid wearer of a good hat. He was patriotic, never missed an opportunity to pray out loud for “first responders, military, and those who serve and protect us.” He would always answer your call, and would be there in a heartbeat with a tool, a part, a picker’s junk-found treasure, an ”I knew I would need this one day” item, an anecdote, a story, a suggestion, a free minute, a hand, a hug or a prayer.

Above all, no matter what you called him or whether you knew him as Vincent, Vince, Daddy, DadDad, Uncle Vince, Mr. Knox or Sarge, his consistent steadfast presence came from his unshakable faith, humbleness and loyalty to God. A true gentleman. This must be why his grandchildren all call him “the Coolest Guy Ever.”

He is survived by the love of his life, Joyce (Smith) Knox, his loving wife of 66 years and together for over 75. His eternally grateful daughters, Mary B (Knox) McNeil (Paul McNeil), and Theresa (Knox) Sheaffer (Rob Sheaffer). His adoring Grandchildren: Robert “Robbie” Vincent Sheaffer, Charlemagne “Charlee” McNeil, Lyric (McNeil) Sipe (Colin Sipe), Grace Sheaffer (Cooper Poe), Angela Sheaffer, and Fiona McNeil.

He is also survived by his sister Joann (Knox) Miles (Donald Miles), his sister-in-law Sunny (Smith) Pritchard (“Buddy” Pritchard) and many many cherished nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Dr. Charles W. Knox Sr. and Mary Elizabeth (Fatula) Knox; siblings: Charles W Knox, Jr, Margaret (Knox) Broussard, Phillip Knox, James Knox, Agnes (Knox) Crossely, Rita (Knox) Dillard, Mary Louise (Knox) Robinson.

Services will be held:

St. Mary of the Mills Church

St. Mary’s Place

Laurel, MD 20707

Monday, Feb 24, 2025

10:30-11:30 Viewing

11:30-12:30 Mass of Christian Burial

Bereavement reception to follow in the Breen Room of St. Mary’s until 2:30

Private internment will take place at St. Mary of the Mills at a later date.

Memorial Donations in his honor may be made to:

Survive First

Wounded Warrior