April 19, 2024, 83, Goldsboro —
Theodore Harewood Smedley Knebel, 83, died and was reunited in Heaven with his wife Melissa on April 19, 2024. He passed away peacefully at his home in Goldsboro, NC. Born in Albany, New York on August 3rd, 1940, he was the son of William Spear Knebel and Dorothy Harewood. He grew up in Brooklyn, NY until his mother decided to relocate to the country. He remembered moving and sharing the back seat with chickens.
Theo graduated from Chatham High and then attended Syracuse University where he received an undergraduate degree in Forestry. He also attended the University of Arts in Philadelphia. He worked for architectural firms designing and landscaping rest stop areas, buildings, bridges, and the 1980 Winter Olympics ski jump and luge in Lake Placid, NY.
Teaching children and adults drawing and painting at his Aunt Lois Smedley Simpson’s art gallery was one of his unforgettable and cherished experiences of his life.
Theo married his first wife Linda Barry in April 1969. He later adopted Linda’s 3-year-old daughter Cathi. Theo and Linda had a son, Myles, in October 1969. Unexpectedly, Theo found himself raising Cathi and Myles as a single parent.
While living in Berne, NY Theo was an active member of the volunteer fire department. Later he would join the Hoosick Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed helping with school drama productions and community drama events. He loved playing the part of a pirate, to a mountain man, to a warrior. If it entailed dressing up, singing, and acting, Theo was there. His children were his life. He supported them in all their activities.
Theo was a history buff, a walking encyclopedia of American and European history. He was very happy to snag your ear and give you the rundown of The Native American tribes in NY and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He was your built-in family tour guide.
One of Theo’s favorite places to visit was Mount Greylock, Massachusetts. He told stories of when he, his sister Marguerite and his Mom would climb from the bottom to the top. Extended family members were all very happy to take the very accessible roadway to the top when Theo took us to Greylock. Having spent many hours in the woods hiking and exploring gave him his love for forestry and preserving the land. He was a hippie and a tree hugger at heart.
In 1986 Theo met the next love of his life, Melissa Pruden Sikora. Friends set them up for a date and they hit it off. Their youngest boys, Myles and Dan, knew one another through the ski club at school and were already friends. On June 6th, 1987 they tied the knot. The next 35 years were quite an adventure for them. They lived in different homes and then started building a home in Eagle Bridge, NY. This was their dream carriage house. They had many animals over the years…a pony, horse, Dalmatians, cats, and two mini horses. Theo was always willing to support Melissa in her love for horses. They loved having their grandchildren visit and get pictures of them on the same pony their parents sat on as kids.
Theo and Melissa spent their honeymoon in Hawaii and took many vacations visiting Scotland, and Japan, a train trip across the US to visit family in the West, and trips to Swans Island, ME to visit Melissa’s mother. Whether the trip was a mile or thousands of miles from home you could find Theo with his sketch pad drawing anything that caught his fancy.
In Theo’s words, he was in the right place at the right time to make magic happen. He was given the opportunity to visit China to work on a landscape architecture project with Jay Lee. Creating a park and beautifying the area was what he loved to be involved with. His trip to China was an extraordinary experience for him.
Theo was a member of the Uncle Sam Chorus which sang in the barbershop style and performed in the patriotic parades in the Capitol District of Albany, NY. He loved singing along with the radio and at church. Willie Nelson(Blue Skies) and the Oakridge Boys were some of his favorite singers.
Tragedy struck when his son Myles took his life at the age of 35. In a pamphlet where Theo wrote thoughts and memories of Myles, he said “I regret that I could have been a better father. I could have kept in closer touch, 3000 miles away, and at least foreseen what was to happen.”
Theo’s older sister Ruthmary passed away in 2021. A way to honor his family members who had passed, he’d write them a beautiful heartfelt letter. “Love to you Ruthmary, and may you find peace and light in the New World.”
Theo and Melissa moved to Goldsboro, NC in 2018. With new health concerns, they wanted to be closer to family. Melissa’s oldest son Chris invited them to stay with him. He had relocated with his family to NC a few years earlier. After getting their own apartment in 2019 they settled into their southern lifestyle. They joined St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church where they made many wonderful friendships. Living on Park Ave. and not far from Herman Park, Theo would take long walks around the park, to the library, and on good days he’d walk all the way to Food Lion. A few of their favorite places to eat were Hardee’s, IHop, and Wendy’s. Pizza from Domino’s was a favorite too. Anything Melissa wanted; Theo would get it for her.
A bit of light went out of Theo when Melissa died in September of 2022. He lost interest in drawing and wondered what he was supposed to do now. His stepdaughter Bonnie was living in Goldsboro at this time and helped him when he misplaced his keys or glasses and helped with house cleaning. The dear ladies of the Episcopal Church frequently brought him food. Theo attended the Senior Center for lunches and exercise and the ladies there took good care of him too. On December 3rd, 2022 Theo was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When asked why he decided to join the church he said for the past 40 years he had been challenged/asked to take this leap of faith and he said it was time he did it.
In February of 2023, Theo’s grandson Derek Plastow moved in with him. It was a blessing to Theo to have a roommate and someone to talk to. Derek frequently attended trips to the Senior Center with Theo. When Theo got a thought in his head and you were too slow to keep up with him, he left you behind. As time went by Derek became Theo’s caregiver. Theo passed away at home in the early morning of April 19th, 2024. Some of Theo’s last messages were to “Just do it! Don’t have any regrets and tell your family that you love them.”
Theo is preceded in death by his parents, Spear Knebel and Dorothy Smedley Knebel; his wife, Melissa Knebel; his son, Myles Knebel; his sister, Ruthmary Knebel Deuel; and his niece, Julie Deuel.
He was survived by his sister, Marguerite Frongillo and her husband Edward; his stepchildren, Chris Sikora and wife Carol, Bonnie Plastow, and Daniel Sikora and wife Misty; brother-in-law, John Pruden and his wife Ellie; ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on May 4, 2024, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1000 11th St., Goldsboro.
Services have been entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home.
To leave an online condolence, please visit www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
