Austin Knight

Service for Austin Rodney “Rod” Knight, 83, of Cleburne will be conducted at 2:00 P.M., Friday, October 2, 2015 in the Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel. Reverend Donna Ware will officiate, assisted by Mr. Ben Oefinger. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Steve Knight, Jeff Knight, Russell Knight, Ben Oefinger, Jim Wadlow, and John Wallace. Honorary pallbearers will be Leon Jones, Fred Bennett and Wallace Lutes. Visitation will be from 6-8:00 P.M., Thursday, at the funeral home.
Austin Rodney Knight passed away on September 29, 2015 in Cleburne. He was born May 8, 1932 in Dallas, TX to Jefferson Davis and Pauline Leigh Ray Knight. He met his wife, Joan Henry in 1953 and they were married on April 10, 1954 in Nixon, TX.
Mr. Knight served in the United States Navy, achieving the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class. He received his Masters in Music Education from the University of North Texas, and was a proud alum. He was a Choral Director for Cleburne ISD, retiring with 32 years of service. He sang for Schola Cantorum in Ft. Worth and was active in the Carnegie Players. Rodney was a member of the Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, PHI Mu. Alpha and was a 32nd degree Mason with the Masonic Lodge No. 315 in Cleburne. He enjoyed travelling the country with his wife, and was a member of two travel clubs. He also had a passion for Cushman scooters. At various times he was a Church Choir Director in the various towns where he lived. He was of the Christian faith and attended Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Cleburne.
He is survived by wife, Joan Knight of Cleburne; sons, Steve Knight of Ft. Worth, Jeff Knight and wife Jamie of Ft. Worth and Russell Knight of McKinney; six grandchildren, Cassy, Kaitlin, Bryan, William, McKenzie and Jill; sisters, Sue Birchman of Cleburne, Myra Sorenson and husband Don, and Beverly Wallace, all of Irving; one brother, Jeff Knight and wife Karen of Arlington; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by parents; grandson, Brad Knight; brother, Wesley Knight; and a niece, Nena Bell.