Milton Hubert “Bert” Knoles

Milton Hubert “Bert” Knoles

June 26th, 1923 – April 6th, 2015

Known to his friends as Bert, he was 91 years 10 months old.  He was the oldest son of Milton “Jack” Knoles and Clara “Mickey” Knoles (nee` Wilkinson)  He loved to laugh and had a tremendous since of humor.  Bert always made everyone laugh.  His smile was infectious and no matter what was going on he had a bright and cheerful smile. 

Bert became a Christian when he was in his late twenties and led his wife and two children to salvation.  He was a faithful man of God, serving as an Deacon and later as an Elder in the churches where he worshipped.  Bert, along with his wife Lila, were very active in the Highway Church in Cherry Valley California.

Bert met Lila Mae Loomis on a blind date fixed up by a friend.  It was love at first sight, they were married on January 6th, 1946.  Ten and a half months later they had their first born son Jerry Allen Knoles, and two years, two months and two weeks later David Milton Knoles was born.  Bert was always so proud of his family.  Bert and Lila were married 63 years until Lila was called home to heaven in 2009.  They were so much in Love throughout the entire 63 years.

Bert was a very good provider, he had a classic old school work ethic, suit up and show up and do a good days work.  Bert worked in heating and cooling early on and then worked at Olsen ship yards during world war II.  He deeply regretted that he was not able to get into the armed forces because he was 4F missing his spleen resulting from a car accident when he was a teenager.  But Bert served his country with honor during world war II building aircraft carriers and battle ships that were desperately needed in both the Atlantic and Pacific war theaters.  Bert was an American Hero working 12 to 16 hours a day, 6 to 7 days of week building those ships.

After the war he worked in construction building houses.  In a move for job security Bert went to work at Marmon Products a sheet metal manufacturing company.  He went from a guy with sheet metal shears on to a position in management.

He moved his family to a brand new two bedroom home on 207th St just two doors away from Lila’s Mom and Dad, Herman and Doris Loomis.  His brother-in-law, Melvin was just down the street.  It was a great little house for his young family.

As his job promotions grew and his young family grew older, he moved them to Lomita with better schools for Jerry and David.  He moved his family into a beautiful new home on 241st St in Lomita.  His oldest son Jerry going to Fleming Junior High School and his youngest son to Grammar School in downtown Lomita.

About this time Bert got his sons into Little League baseball.  He would go on to umpire and manage in the Lomita Little League and the Babe Ruth League.

Bert was always thinking of his family taking the whole tribe on camping trips to Yosemite. He would pitch an old style tent with army cots and Coleman lanterns.  He would take the family to Disneyland every summer without fail.

Bert was a high graduate and wished later in his life he would have gone on to college.  But his work in World War II and raising his young family thereafter kept him from this goal.  He was never a selfish person always thinking of his family before himself.

His long term company, Marmon Products was sold and he needed a new career.  He found an even better job at Magnavox in Torrance.  He was so proud of his new company as he slowly replaced all the home electronics to Magnavox.  He worked as a model maker, building new designs for electronic components housing.  Spending more than 20 years with Magnavox, he became a lead, a supervisor and then department head.

Bert and Lila retired when he got to age 62 and they moved to Cherry Valley right on the golf course.  As everyone knows, Bert was an avid golfer and once retired he worked hard becoming a below par golfer.

Bert and Lila loved traveling and took quite a few trips throughout the pacific coast in their motor home and fifth wheel.  Their favorite place to visit was Laughlin Nevada.  They even moved to Laughlin for a time before buying the fifth wheel.  They took cruises and trips to Las Vegas in their retirement. 

Bert was an excellent handyman who could fix anything.  He did his own home repairs and installations.  He was also a shade tree mechanic who did all his car repairs.  He installed a record player in the famous Ford Falcon for his sons that played 45 rpm records. There wasn’t anything he could not figure out or fix.

His best quality, of many, was that he was always very generous.  He was always looking out for everyone around him. 

Bert is survived by his two sons, Jerry and David, and his sister Luan Smith (Knoles) plus three grandchildren, Christian, Zachary and Joshua and a great grandchild.  He was Uncle Bert to scores of nieces and nephews spread out throughout this great country.

Bert was an American Hero and will be missed by so many of us.

Bert was called home last Monday April 6th, 2015 but this is not a sad story.  He was released from his worn out body and went to be with his beloved wife and other loved ones who have passed away.  This is a celebration as Bert Knoles is now united together with his wife Lila and our heavenly savior Jesus Christ in Heaven.