Gary Stephen Knowlton, of Springfield, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2026, just two days shy of his 77th birthday. He was born on October 5, 1949, in Cumberland, Maryland and lived a life shaped by service, music, laughter, curiosity, and, above all, love for his family.

Gary had a deep and lasting love for flying and worked as an airline pilot for many years. Flying was more than a profession to Gary; it was one of the great loves of his life.

Gary was also a proud Marine who served two tours in Vietnam. His military service was deeply meaningful to him and he carried it with pride throughout his life.

But Gary was so much more than his career and his service. He was intelligent, curious, thoughtful, and full of personality. He had an unshakable sense of integrity and lived by the principles he believed in. He loved to learn and research and seemed to know a remarkable amount about a wide range of subjects. He was eloquent and had a gift for words, a sharp sense of humor, and a talent for telling a story. He was funny and loved to laugh. His humor and personality could make even the simplest conversations memorable.

Music was ever-present in Gary’s life. He listened to it constantly and sang, danced, and played the guitar. His many other interests included model trains, woodworking, and fishing. He also found joy in simple things—a good pot of coffee, a beautiful view, and the chance to simply sit and enjoy them.

Of everything Gary accomplished in his life, his family mattered to him most. His greatest joy and deepest sense of purpose came from the love he shared with his family. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He and his wife, Maria, built 42 years of marriage and a life together filled with memories, laughter, and love. He was loved by his daughters and adored by his granddaughters. His family was his greatest source of pride, and he showed his devotion through the care and love he gave them.

Gary had a way of making the people around him feel protected, grounded, and less alone. There was a steadiness to him that made people feel safe and secure simply knowing he was there. That sense of security was one of the greatest gifts he gave to the people who loved him.

Gary is preceded in death by his father, John Knowlton, his mother, Louise Flanagan, and stepfather, James Flanagan.

He is survived by his wife, Maria Knowlton; his daughters, Jennifer (Josh) Thomas and Deborah Knowlton; and his granddaughters, Enora and Fiadh Thomas. He is also survived by his siblings, Ron (Robin) Knowlton, Vickie Bodner, and Roxanne (Steve) Sutphin; his nieces and nephews, Heidi Knowlton-Deeter, Justin Bodner, Joe Bodner, Jeremy Bodner, Stephen Sutphin, Jeffery Sutphin, and Kevin Sutphin; and his great-nephews and nieces.

Gary’s life reflected courage, curiosity, laughter, and love. He will be remembered for his intelligence, integrity, stories, humor, the music he made, the sky he loved, and the love he gave to his family. The imprint he left on the people who knew him will remain in the stories they tell, the lessons they learned from him, and the memories they shared.

He was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in memory of Gary to the Melanoma Research Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting melanoma patients and families while advancing research toward better treatments and a cure.

https://melanoma.org