Deryck Harland Knowles

Laconia --- Deryck Harland Knowles, 86, of 21 Ledges Drive, Laconia, died on Sunday, September 2, 2007 at the Taylor Community.

Mr. Knowles was born on September 7, 1920 in Montreal, the son of William Harland Knowles and Marion (Thomson) Knowles.

Deryck enlisted as a Lieutenant in the Black Watch Regiment of Canada in 1941 and served as an instructor at Huntingdon and Farnham, Quebec, before proceeding overseas.  He was engaged with the Regiment in Sicily and Italy and was wounded in December, 1943.  He returned to duty as Platoon Commander but soon after was appointed Administrative Company Commander and promoted to the rank of Captain.  He later served in England as a Liaison Officer to the British Army, and from April, 1945, until the end of his service was a Company Commander with the Regiment in Northwest Europe.  Deryck was the Trust Officer and a Vice President of the Laconia Peoples National Bank and Trust for many years.  He was a member of the Laconia Congregational Church, the Laconia Country Club, and the Laconia Rotary Club in which he was a Paul Harris Fellow.  He also was an incorporator of the Belknap Mill Society, the Lakes Region General Hospital and the Taylor Community.  He was a director of the Laconia Historical Society and also a member of the Peter S. Karagianis Society.  In his younger years, Deryck was a carillon bell ringer and a fine piano player.

He is survived by his wife, Sue E. (Lutz) Knowles of Laconia; a son, Ian Knowles and his wife Francine of Richmond, RI, and a daughter, Ann MacKay and her husband Donald of Newton, MA; 3 grandchildren, Lauren Caplan, Brendon and Christopher MacKay; 2 great-grandchildren, Shoshana Caplan and Wiley MacKay; a step-son Wray Lockwood and his wife Kim of Cotuit, MA, and 2 step-grandsons, Arden and Joel Lockwood.

There are no calling hours.

A Memorial service will be held Wednesday, September 5, 2007, at 1:00 PM at the Laconia Congregational Church, 18 Veterans Square, Laconia, NH.  The Rev. Warren Bouton, pastor of the church, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Community Health and Hospice, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246; or to The Sunshine Fund of the Taylor Community, 435 Union Avenue, Laconia, NH 03246.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is in charge of the arrangements.