William "Bubba" Charles Knolle

WILLIAM CHARLES KNOLLE was born on September 6, 1923 to Miles and Susie Lipscomb Knolle in Industry, Texas. He attended elementary school in Industry and graduated from Bellville High School in 1940 where he was a member of the 1938 football team that won Regional, which was as far as a team could go at that time. They had a 12-0 record for the year, giving up only 14 points for the entire year. After graduation, he attended Texas A&M and entered the Army Air Force in April 1943. He attained the rank of 2nd Lt., piloting B-17s for 36 missions out of England over Germany during WWII. He earned the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, the European-African-Middle Eastern Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars and 1 Overseas Service Bar. His inactive service began on July 25, 1945. He married Bessie Sommer on March 25, 1944. After leaving the service, he owned the Gulf Oil Distributorship in Bellville from 1946 to 1986. Working on his land and checking cattle were an important part of Bubba''s life until 2012. He was involved in many different community activities. Bubba was a staunch supporter of all youth athletic programs, especially the Bellville Brahmas and rarely missed a game for over 70 years. He was a member of St. Mary''s Episcopal Church for many years, serving on the Vestry and the Foundation Board. Bubba later joined St. John Lutheran Church. He also was a member of the VFW, Lions Club, Austin County A&M Club, and the Bellville Golf Course, serving on the Board of Directors. He also was a member of the Bellville School Board. He was a long-time supporter of the Austin County Youth Livestock Auction. Bubba was preceded in death by his parents, Miles and Susie Knolle; his wife, Bessie; and his daughter, Kay Knolle Whitehouse; his sister, Mildred Coward; brother-in-law, Russell Coward; and sister-in-law, Janice Sommer. On January 14, 2006, Bubba married Joyce Remmert Haugen. He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce; his son, Bill (Janie); grandsons, Mark Knolle and Brad Knolle (Katie); granddaughters, Heather Sander (Cam) and Anne Stith (Kyle); step-daughter, Lori Howard (Jeff); step-sons, Jeff Haugen (Robin) and Erik Haugen (Denise); seven step-grandchildren, Taylor, Jackson and Alden Howard, Haley, Hannah, Faith and Ellie Haugen; five great grandchildren, Aaron and Claire Sander, Catherine Stith, and Brady and Baker Knolle; brothers-in-law, Tony Sommer and Bruce Remmert (Neville) and numerous friends and relatives. Pallbearers are Erik Haugen, Jeffrey Haugen, Mark Knolle, Brad Knolle, Christian Remmert, Bruce Remmert, Taylor Howard and Jackson Howard Friends who wish may make memorial gifts to the: St. John Lutheran Church, 520 North Holland, Bellville, Texas 77418.