F James Knight

F. James “Jim” Knight, 91, of Elizabethtown, PA, passed peacefully on March 3, 2026. A man of character and leadership, he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Jim was born on May 14, 1934, in Lansing, MI, the son of Harold and Marie Knight. As a child, his family built and operated a small summer resort in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, along the shore of Lake Michigan. Amid the wide blue skies and deep forests of the UP, those youthful years of hard work and laughter with family and friends helped shape his lifelong love of nature, science, and adventure.

After graduating from high school in St. Ignace, MI in 1952, he served two years in the U.S. Army before earning a degree in Geological Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

In 1957 Jim married Virgean Rightmyer, of Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and the couple shared a wonderful 56-year life of love and adventure together until her death in 2013. They were both amazing parents, incredible role models, and were extremely proud of their children and grandchildren. 

Jim is survived by their four children: Michael Knight (Julia) of Harrisburg, PA; Kathryn Ryan (Bill) of Bridgeville, PA; Karen Reynolds (Greg) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; and Christopher Knight (Carrie) of Camp Hill, PA; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother Rex Knight of Woodinville, WA; sister Carol Tonne of Republic, WA; and his devoted wife, Penny Knight of Elizabethtown, PA.

After earning a Master’s in Geotechnical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines in 1963, he joined the engineering firm Gannett Fleming, Inc. in Harrisburg, where he built a distinguished 34-year career. Starting as an Engineering Geologist, he rose to become Executive Vice President and a member of the company’s Board of Directors at the time of his retirement. He was honored to have served as President of the Harrisburg Chapter of Professional Engineers and of the state-wide organization, PSPE. 

He was active in numerous organizations including the Masons, Paxtang Lions Club, and most notably, Paxton Presbyterian Church, where he served many years as an Elder and member of the Session, in addition to pancake flipper, chair arranger, usher, Sunday School teacher, doorman, night watchman, actor, handyman or...basically anything needed for more than 50 years.

Jim was an avid sailor, enjoying adventures with Virgean on the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes, and occasionally in the Caribbean. In retirement, they sailed their boat KNIGHTWIND from the Chesapeake Bay, through the Erie Canal, and home to Northern Michigan, an adventure of a lifetime that led them to spend many more summers sailing the Great Lakes and walking the beaches of their childhoods.

Following Virgean’s death, Jim married Penny Moore, who had a shared devotion to Paxton Church and the many friends they had in common. They enjoyed more than ten years together, traveling to Arizona and Florida, and making new friends in their neighborhood at Masonic Village in Elizabethtown until his passing.

Jim will be remembered as a great father, friend and mentor, known for his leadership, intellectual curiosity, and deep love for his family and the waters that always felt like home. 

With gratitude for the full life he shared with us, we wish him fair winds and following seas on his journey home.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Paxton Presbyterian Church, 3500 Sharon St., Harrisburg, PA. Visitation with the family and continental breakfast be be from 9:30-11:00. Memorial contributions can be made to Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or Chesapeake Bay Foundation (www.cbf.org).

Kimmel Funeral Home, Harrisburg, is handling arrangements.