John Dennison Knipple walked miles to a one-room schoolhouse as a boy. At JHS he was spirited and popular. He was a JHS cheerleader and active in school activities. He was a lifelong poet who wrote for pleasure.

Upon graduation from JHS with honors at age 15, he worked locally until entering the U.S. Navy in 1941. He was selected for officer training in 1944. He attended Union College and then transferred to Dartmouth College, graduating with the Class of 1946 and commissioned an Ensign. He served as Supply Officer aboard several ships. He received his Masters Degree in 1963 prior to leaving for Vietnam where he served for one year. Obtaining the rank of Captain in a highly decorated 34-year naval career, Captain Knipple and his family were stationed across the United States and abroad.

Active in community affairs, he served as PTA President in four different schools over 30 decades, was Civic Association President and Treasurer, led clothing and food drives in the community and volunteered for the Virginia Democratic Party. A 30-year member of Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, he served as lector, Eucharistic Minister and member of the Legion of Mary. John was a devoted husband for 52 years (wife Pauline is a JHS graduate, Class of 1943) and father of six.

In 1983, Captain Knipple’s youngest son, a Marine serving in Beirut Lebanon was among 241 service members killed by a terrorist attack. Captain Knipple devoted the next 13 years as a family liaison for “No Greater Love,” a humanitarian organization dedicated to remembering those who gave their lives in service to their country and all victims of terrorism. He died in 1996 at age 73 and is buried near his son in Arlington National Cemetery.



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