[NFBV-Announce] With deepest sympathys

[jackibruce6 at gmail.com]

From: Larry Povanelli, Potomac Chapter

 

We are sad to report the death of our dear friend, Carl Knoettner.  He
passed away on December 26, 2025. Carl was born in Manchester, New Hampshire
on July 24, 1945, and was 80 years old. Carl was interred on Thursday,
January 22, 2026, in a private service at the National Memorial Park in
Falls Church, Virginia.

Carl was a longtime supporter and member of the National Federation of the
Blind.  He was a strong recruiter for the NFB. If he saw a blind person, he
would always approach them and ask if they knew about the NFB. He was a very
active member of the Potomac Chapter and the Virginia affiliate. As a
sighted person, Carl served as a driver, reader, dog walker, shopping
assistant, braille translator, puzzle master and a good friend to many of
the Potomac Chapter members. Carl also edited and proofread the "Care and
Feeding of the Long White Cane". A book written by Tom Bickford to educate
people on the benefits of using a white cane.  

Carl learned to write braille through a program the Potomac Chapter offered
in 1989. Although he couldn't read braille with his fingers, he could read
one-sided braille with his eyes. To practice his braille skills, he brailed
approximately 600 Lutheran hymns and several liturgies for one of our
members.  

Carl was an avid runner and completed several marathons.  He loved to run in
5K & 10K races; including the Grace Veteran's Day 10K, the 6-Dot Dash,
annual turkey trots and at countless Navy Federal Credit Union races.  Carl
was always encouraging people to walk, even if he had to park in the
farthest parking spot from the door to accomplish it. He enjoyed
mathematical puzzles, puns and bad dad jokes, and NPR weekly puzzles.  He
enjoyed reading and attending the Potomac Chapter book club. Carl loved to
try all the different baked goods made by chapter members.  His favorite was
oatmeal raisin cookies.

Carl held a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of New
Hampshire and immediately following graduation, he served our country, by
serving in the U.S. Army for four years. Upon leaving the Army, Carl
immediately was hired as a computer programmer with the Navy Federal Credit
Union, where he worked his entire career for nearly 44 years.  

Carl attended services and bible studies and assisted with community service
projects at Grace Lutheran Church for over 35 years.

Although he hasn't been active for several years due to declining health, we
all have fond memories of Carl's kind-heartedness, humility and quirky
personality.

Carl is survived by his sister Joan and brother-in-law Steven Drake of
Dalton, MA., and two nieces.  

Everyone is invited to Carl's memorial service.  The service will be held at
Grace Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 2PM.  Grace is located
at 3233 Annadale Road, Falls Church VA 22042.  A post-service light
reception will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the
National Federation of the Blind of Virginia, at
<https://nfbv.org/donate-now> https://nfbv.org/donate-now, or to Grace
Christian Academy,  <https://www.gracechristianacademy.org/donate>
https://www.gracechristianacademy.org/donate. Please provide a note that the
donation is in memory of Carl Knoettner.

 

 

Peace,

 

Jacki Bruce

 

mailto:jackibruce6 at gmail.com or membership at nfbv.org
<mailto:membership at nfbv.org>  

tel:(757)291-1789

 

Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia

Find us on Instragram @nfbofvirginia

Subscribe to our Youtube: NFB Virginia

www.nfbv.org <http://www.nfbv.org/> 

 

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