Melbourne Knox, Jr.

Left Formation August 26, 2002

SOUTHPORT, Maine - Memorial services for W. Melbourne Knox Jr., 81, of Barters Island, Boothbay, a decorated World War II veteran and former Maplewood, N.J., township official, will be held here at the Southport Methodist Church in September.

Arrangements are by the Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home, Boothbay.

Mr. Knox died Monday in St. Andrew's Hospital in Boothbay Harbor. A 27-year employee of Maplewood Township, N.J., before retiring, he was elected collector of taxes in 1964, and, a year later, township clerk. At that time, he also was appointed treasurer and chief financial officer.

During his tenure, Mr. Knox also served as secretary of the Maplewood Planning Board, Board of Health, Economic Development Commission, Alcoholic Beverage Control, 4th of July Committee, and the Municipal Building Mural Committee.

He received a certicate in business administration from Rutgers University in New Jersey and held a N.J. license as a registered municipal clerk and certied municipal nance ofcer.

An Army Air Force veteran of World War II, Mr. Knox was an aerial engineer on a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber assigned to the 8th Air Force, 95th Bomb Group, based in Horham, England. He completed 35 combat missions over Europe, including D-Day, and service in Russia and Italy.

He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster and the European Theatre Ribbon with four battle stars.

He was a past commander of the Maplewood American Legion Post 80 and a member of Charles E. Sherman Jr. American Legion Post 36, Boothbay, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Born in Maplewood, he moved to Barters Island in 1984.

Surviving are daughters, Marilyn Roman and Katherine Hudson; a sister, Suzanne Rogers; four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Star-Ledger, The (Newark, NJ) - Wednesday, August 28, 2002