John Knowlton

John Franklin Knowlton AKA “Jack” was born April 10, 1931 at Salinas Valley Hospital in Salinas, California to Everett and Alice Knowlton. Jack grew up on the Knowlton Ranch with his two sisters, Betty and Georgene in Spreckles, California. His family grew lettuce for the markets and sugar beets for the Spreckles Sugar Factory. Jack attended grammar school at Spreckles Elementary and then onto Salinas High School. While attending high school he was on the baseball, basketball and football teams. Upon graduating from high school he continued his education at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. While at Cal Poly he enlisted in the United States Navy. During his enlistment, he served in the Korean War. Jack met the love of his life “Yvonne” through his sister Betty in 1952. Betty was one of Yvonne’s high school teachers and picked Yvonne out of all her students to meet her brother while he was home on leave from the Navy. After 15 months of love letters they later married on November 6, 1954. They were blessed with two daughters Pamela Jane and Deborah Alice. Jack always worked very hard for his family and most of his early working life he held two jobs. He and Yvonne enjoyed volunteering at the Palmdale Playhouse which allowed them to see many musicals and theater plays.  After Jack retired, both he and Yvonne worked the month of October at the Tapia Bros. Farm Pumpkin Patch selling fresh popcorn.They enjoyed many family vacations camping and boating. Jack and Yvonne continued the family vacations with their daughters and their families after they were married. Jack enjoyed square dancing and became a square dance caller, fishing, woodworking, sports and attending or watching rodeos. Jack was very much a family man, so proud of his daughters and husbands, Pam and Robb, Deborah and Tom, his six grandchildren (Randall, Cassie, Richard, Thomas, Ryan, and Robinson) and his five great-grandchildren (Jackson, Rylan, Marely, Claire and “just born” Baby Emily). Jack attended many if not ALL of his grandchildren’s sporting events, academic ceremonies, “you name it” throughout his life. He will always be remembered his gentle kind soul and his genuine care for all those he knew. He leaves behind many fond memories for his family and friends. He will truly be missed by all those who knew him.