Raymond H. Knipe, Jr.

MILLBURY Raymond H. Knipe, Jr., 85, of Millbury and formerly of Worcester, expired on Thursday, September 29, 2011, in St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, after an illness.

He was born in Worcester on July 30, 1926, a son of the late Raymond H. Knipe, Sr. and Grace G. (Armstrong) Knipe, and lived there before moving to Millbury in 1979. After graduating from the Worcester High School of Commerce, he and his twin brother, Richard A. Knipe, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944. After training, he was assigned as a gunner in the Naval Armed Guard aboard the merchant vessel, S.S. KEITH VAWTER. He participated in the invasion and liberation of the Philippines and survived the sinking of his ship in Subic Bay, P.I. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Seaman First Class and was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one campaign star, the Liberation of the Philippines Medal with one campaign star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Mr. Knipe worked for 47 years as a union carpenter, a member of Carpenters Union Local #107, Worcester, before he retired. An avid golfer, he enjoyed playing at Clearview Country Club, Millbury, where he also worked part-time for many years.

He leaves his wife of 32 years, Irene M. (Savoie) Melanson Knipe; two children: a daughter, Gail (Knipe) Vigneault and her...