Edgar Colby Knowlton Jr.'s Obituary
Edgar Colby Knowlton, Jr., 94 years old, passed away on July 24, 2016 in Waipahu. Born to Edgar Colby Knowlton and Mildred Mason Hunt in Delaware, Ohio on September 14, 1921. He was an only child. Edgar was a retired professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Edgar grew up and was educated in the state of Massachusetts. He went on to pursue a college education. He received his BA Magna Cum Laude with high honors (1941) and MA in Romance Language (1942) from Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1959 Edgar received his PhD in Spanish and Linguistics from Stanford University, Stanford, California.
Edgar came to Hawaii in 1948 to begin teaching Spanish at the University of Hawaii Manoa and remained as a faculty member until his retirement. He began as an instructor and acquired the titles of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor during his tenure. Edgar was a brilliant man who spoke 26 different languages.
Edgar briefly served in the military with the United States Navy stationed in Seoul, Korea from February 1951 until November 1952. During his active service in Seoul, Edgar completed another language; Beginning Russian I (College Level).
Edgar has no known survivors, but during his 94 years of life, he met and made many, many friends. He promoted education and his love for language was his total being. Edgar was a loyal friend to all.
Private services were held.
In lieu of monetary gifts, consider a donation to the Portuguese Association of Maui or Hawaii Council on Portuguese Heritage.
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