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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>From: Larry Povanelli, Potomac Chapter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:13.8pt'><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:13.8pt'><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:13.8pt'><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:13.8pt'><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:13.8pt'><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:13.8pt'><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif'>Carl attended services and bible studies and assisted with community service projects at Grace Lutheran Church for over 35 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:13.8pt'><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:13.8pt'><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif;color:black'>Carl is survived by his sister Joan and brother-in-law Steven Drake of Dalton, MA., and two nieces. </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif;color:black'>Everyone is invited to Carl's memorial service. </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",serif'> 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 <a href="https://nfbv.org/donate-now" target="_blank"><span style='color:#467886'>https://nfbv.org/donate-now</span></a>, or to Grace Christian Academy, <a href="https://www.gracechristianacademy.org/donate" target="_blank"><span style='color:#467886'>https://www.gracechristianacademy.org/donate</span></a>. Please provide a note that the donation is in memory of Carl Knoettner.</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Peace,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jacki Bruce<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com">mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</a> or <a href="mailto:membership@nfbv.org">membership@nfbv.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="tel:(757)291-1789">tel:(757)291-1789</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Find us on Instragram @nfbofvirginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Subscribe to our Youtube: NFB Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/">www.nfbv.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>