LEWISTON – Gilbert R. “Gib” Knight Sr. of Golder Road in Lewiston, went to be with his Lord on July 22, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Gib was born in Norwalk, Conn., Sept. 27, 1935, the fifth son of Charles and Lily Knight. He grew up in Stamford, Conn., and worked in his father’s diner, Rippawam Grill, along with his brothers.

After moving to Leeds, in the mid-1960s, he owned and operated the Low Moor Diner on Route 202. He then sold it to fulfill his lifelong dream of training and racing standardbred horses.

He later worked in the sporting goods department at Wal-Mart in Auburn, leaving when he became ill. “Mr. Gib” (as he was known at Wal-Mart) thoroughly enjoyed life and people, and always had a smile on his face, and a joke to tell. He was a long-time member and elder of the Leeds Community Church. He had a strong faith, which sustained him and helped to give our family strength. He will be sadly missed.

“Pop” is survived by his wife of 48 years, Muriel F. Knight; his son, Gilbert Jr. and wife, Cynthia, of Stamford, Conn.; daughter, Candace Knight and her children, Kelly, Kirsten and Allison; daughter,Kim Masse, husband, Raymond, and children Ray, Brett and Drew, of Lewiston; son, Richard, wife, Mary, and children Kurt, Katherine, Kyle, Kevin and Kade, and one great-grandson, Mathieu, all of Leeds; his sister, June Howe and husband, Cecil, of Leesburg, Fla.; brother, Herbert and wife, Veronica, of Norway; sisters-in-law, Frances (Mrs. Donald Knight) and Dorothy (Mrs. Franklin Knight), both of Stamford, Conn.; and in-laws, James and Hazel Powers, of Sabattus; brother-in-law, Thomas Fern and his companion, Debra, of Putnam, Conn.; brother-in-law, James Powers and wife, Carol, of Sabattus; many nieces and nephews; as well as many friends; and his beloved dachshund, Riley.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Charles, Donald, Ernest and Franklin; and grandnephew, Herbert R. Knight III.