Robert Summers Knapp Sr

KNAPP, Robert "Bob" Summers Sr, passed away December 10, 2015, at Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, with his family at his side. Bob was born in Hartford, Connecticut on October 18, 1936, the elder son of Winfred Irving Knapp and Phoebe Esther (Archambault) Knapp Bilverstone, the son of a dairy farmer. He often shared stories of farm life with his children and grandchildren. He proudly served his country as a Marine from September 1955 until August 1959. Stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miami (now Miami-OpaLocka Executive Airport), he was an airplane mechanic. While stationed here, he met his first wife Arline Elkes Ziller and made his home in South Florida, having four children. After his honorable discharge, he worked at Sealtest Dairies and joined the Opa-Locka Auxiliary Police Department. During this time, he married his second wife, Jeanne (Ledbetter) Ballew, who had two children, and they had five children together. He became a Police Officer for the city he loved so much, where he worked his way up to Police Chief. Upon retiring from the OLPD, he became very active in the City government, serving as Vice Mayor and Commissioner. He was well respected and loved by his children and made a difference in the many lives he touched through his many years of service. He retired the last time at the age of 76 from the City of Opa-Locka where he worked as a Housing inspector within the Code Enforcement Division. He worked for Alterman Transport Lines in Miami and Cargill Foods serving the cruise industry for many years at different times. Bob is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jeanne and their children, Jimmy Ballew Sr, Vincent Knapp, Robert S Knapp Jr (Nicole), Randy Knapp, Cindy (Ivan Pereira) and Andrea (Patrick Barthel). He is also survived by his children from his first marriage, Judi D Temple, Lisa Temple, and Duane Temple. His grandchildren include Tracey (Williams) Tursi (Michael), Billy Purdy III, Dana Purdy, Jimmy Ballew Jr, Nicole (Temple) Luizza (Paul), Josh Temple, Shawn Temple, Ivan Pereira Jr, Chris Pereira, Sianna Hernandez, Iyshuri Summers Knapp, Robert S Knapp III and Branden Knapp. He also had five great-grandchildren, Austin and Madeline Ballew, Julia and Jennifer Tursi and Ricky Purdy. He is also survived by his brother David Knapp and half siblings Linda (Bilverstone) Sullivan and Billy Bilverstone, brother-in-law Tom Ledbetter (Martha) and their families, and many cousins he had visited with during recent reunions in Connecticut and Vermont. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by daughter Debbie (Ballew) Fuzzard in 2012 and eldest son Gary Temple just five days before. The family will receive visitors at a viewing beginning at 4:00pm at Vista Funeral Home, 14200 NW 57th Avenue, Miami Lakes, FL 33014, immediately followed by a memorial service at 8:00pm with military, police and ROTC honor guards.