Stanley Knowlton

Stanley Knowlton lived just shy of 100 years (5/27/25 – 10/28/24). The first thing you noticed about him was his bright blue eyes. As a child, Stanley was asthmatic. His parents, Hugh and Christine (Stanley) Knowlton, sent him by train from New York, at the age of nine, to live at the Orme Ranch, a cattle outfit in the high desert of Arizona with a one-room schoolhouse. He lived a cowboy-kid life filled with starry nights, horseback riding, shared chores, and family nights around the Victrola. At the age of 11, he attended the Arizona Desert School in Tucson. The school’s sport was polo, and Stanley remembers their primary opponent was the U.S. Calvary stationed nearby. Stanley returned to the East coast and attended Lawrenceville School from 1939 – 1943.

Upon graduation Stanley signed up to serve with the U.S. Marine Corps in WWII. He shipped out to the Philippines as part of the First Marine Air Wing and earned the rank of Staff Sargent by the end of the war. Stanley attended Yale on the G.I. bill, lettering in cross country and graduating in three years. He met and married his first wife, Skye Willis, moving West again to work in the Texas oil fields. Four daughters soon followed: Christy Knowlton (Steve Akeson), Candy Bengs (Chris Bengs), Robin Knowlton (Stefan Sekula), and Martha Knowlton (Tim Childs). Stanley returned to military duty fighting in the Korean War from 1951-52.

Stanley worked in the oil and gas business, and in public relations and advertising in Florida and Pennsylvania. The Marines called him back into service once more, moving the family to Camp Pendleton in California during the Vietnam War. Stanley retired from the Corps with the rank of Colonel.

In his 50s, Stanley pivoted his life and entered the investment business in New York City. He married his second wife, Margaret Fowler, and they had two sons, Craig Knowlton (Karin Olah) and Calvin Knowlton. The last twenty years of his working life he partnered with his brother Winthrop Knowlton, founding Knowlton Brothers in New York City.

At the age of 85, Stanley retired, divorced, and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, to enjoy the warmth and sun, both things he loved, and to become a Trustee of The Orme School. He was the oldest rider on Orme’s annual Los Vaqueros de Farmacia ride, at the age of 79. He collected stamps his whole life and was a 50-year member of the American Philatelic Society. A love of art - creating it, collecting it, and viewing it in museums - was shared with all of his children.

The final four years of his life were spent in Lodi, California, with his daughter Robin and son-in-law Stefan, and their extended family. Stanley lived a good life. He loved eating his meals at restaurant bars where he could chat with the bartender and fellow diners. He loved a good Manhattan or Vodka Martini. Simple things gave him pleasure, flowers, a good thriller novel, symphony music, bright colors. He is the last of his generation but leaves behind a long legacy with grandchildren: Willis Taylor (Katie Bannon), Sarah Taylor (Geoff McQuilkin), Erica Bengs (Ben Miller), Sarah Bengs (Joe Muehlhauser), Charlie Bengs (Leila Nichols), Christopher Bengs (Erika Bengs), Nathaniel Sekula (Kate Sekula), Alison Knowlton, and Emma Knowlton, and great grandchildren: Carsen, John, and Stormy Taylor, Caelen, Ellery, and Cassia McQuilkin, Jake Miller and Savannah Mitchell (Jake Mitchell), Killian and Asa Bengs, Kalyani and Max Bengs, Luca, Skye, and June Sekula. He is greatly missed.