COLUMBUS, NC --Walter Vincent Knopp, 88, of Columbus, N.C. passed away at his home on Wednesday, July 4, 2007 after a long illness. He was born in New York City to Ernst and Marie Knopp. He graduated High School in Bronxville, New York and worked for Bell Laboratories in New York City for 3 years before attending Stevens Institute of Technology. He received his Masters Degree in Metallurgy from that institution in 1947. He married Margaret Elisabeth (Betty) Smith in June of 1948 at Church of the Holy Cross in Tryon, North Carolina. He created his own Research and Development Laboratory with partner John Shaw in Paterson, New Jersey. He resided with his growing family of women in Wyckoff, New Jersey from 1952 to 1984. During his business career he developed 7 patents. The most widely used in the US and abroad in the automobile industry was a brazing alloy designed to braze powdered metal parts together. He was also the author of over 20 technical papers. In Wyckoff he was elected to the school board and became it's president. He was a member of the Village Players, a set builder and back stage manager. He was also involved as an AFS Exchange Student father and became a host on several occasions. He was a member of the vestry of the Episcopal Church in New Jersey and became treasurer of the Church of the Good Shepherd upon moving to Columbus. Since moving to North Carolina in 1984 he traveled to India where he helped set up a powdered metallurgical plant in Hyderabad. Later he traveled to Taiwan to inspect powdered metallurgical plants on that island. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and is survived by his wife and his daughters Jennifer D. Pettinicchi and her husband David Pettinicchi of Trumbull, Connecticut Anita M. Knopp of Easley, South Carolina, Cynthia A. McKinstrie and husband, Frank of Jericho, Vermont, and Heather A. Knopp of Boulder Colorado. Also surviving are grandchildren Kelly Pettinicchi, Ana Pettinicchi, Katie Knopp, Ryan Gardner, Andrew Davidson and his wife, Joanna, Paul Davidson, Grant McKinstrie and great-grandchild Alyssa Davidson.A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 13 at Holy Cross Church, Tryon, N.C. at 2:00 pm with Rev. Dr. Michael Doty officiating with a reception following in the Parish Hall.Donations can be made to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, North Carolina 28722, Church of the Holy Cross, P.O. 279, Tryon, N.C. 28782, or Polk County First Responders, c/o St. Luke's EMS, P.O. Box 308, Columbus NC 28722.
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