Ronald Reeves Knaus

Ronald Reeves Knaus, age 82 of Abilene, Texas, passed away Saturday, May 16, 2015 in Abilene Regional Hospital. Ron Knaus was born in Big Spring TX to Ike and Margaret (Reeves) Knaus on June 17, 1932. He graduated from Freeport High School in Freeport TX in 1949. His passion for photography and flying started in his teen years. In 1951 he attended UT and was the chief photographer for all the daily newspapers and magazines. He began USAF pilot training in Marianna FL in 1954 graduating the following year in San Angelo TX. He served in the USAF for 20 years reaching the rank of Captain and Senior Pilot. While based out of Orlando FL. in 1960, he was in charge of doing the first complete aerial mapping of British Guiana, French Guiana, Panama and Brazil. He flew missions in both Korea and Vietnam specializing in Recon, Intel and mapping of enemy troops, troop movement and terrain from 1962 to 1963. In 1964 he was transferred to Fort Worth TX and was on the development team for Recon aircraft design for General Dynamics. After retiring from the Air Force in 1966 he continued with his passion by flying with American Airlines while stationed in of New York where he flew the Boeing 727’s. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1968 and continued to fly with American Airlines until 1992. During this period, he reached the rank of Captain on MD 80ac, 707B, DC-10 (his favorite commercial plane of all), 767 and 757. He retired as a DC-10 captain while based out of DFW in his final year. Just before retiring from American Airlines, Ron established residency in Abilene TX in 1991. Shortly thereafter he married “Abilene’s finest lady” Sharon Hooks Siewert in 1993. From 1994 until his death he worked as a rancher and land manager on his ranch near Buffalo Gap. Ron was known to his friends and family for his quick wit, humor and being a master story teller. He has one of the few true stories of how he – in a US Recon aircraft - and a Russian submarine almost collided during the Cold War. His mind was non-stop with projects and ideas to improve or innovate on daily tasks. His love for his family, friends and country will be sorely missed. Ron Knaus was preceded in death by his parents Ike and Margaret Knaus, his step father Pierce Watters Sr., first wife Annemarie von Riegen. He is survived by his wife Sharon Hooks Knaus, son Eric Knaus and wife Angel of Houston, daughter Chanda Strickland and husband Scott of San Antonio, brother Pierce Watters of Seattle WA., Susan Waller and husband Stephen, Julia Siewert, Jill Fields and husband Rex, Tom Siewert, grandchildren Matthew Knaus, Michele Knaus, Ryan Knaus, Kaiden Strickland, Kyndall Strickland, Andrew Waller (Ashley), David Waller (Courtney), Katie Waller, Nicholas Galbraith, Molly Smith (Tim), Jackson Hanna, Emory Hanna, Abigail Fields, Rebekah Marshall, Peyton Marshall, Channing Siewert, and second wife Nancy Chanda. Visitation will be from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Monday, May 18th at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Family services to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the donor’s favorite charity.