William Knoll

William A. "Knobby" Knoll, 89, of Cloverdale, formerly of Indianapolis, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 at the Putnam County Hospital.

He was born on Aug. 4, 1920 in Connersville, the son of the late Henry Thomas and Edith Lorene Kenney Knoll.

Mr. Knoll joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, at age 22, and served two-and-a-half years, most of them being deployed in the South Pacific. He received a medical honorable discharge.

He worked at Naval Avionics in Indianapolis for a short time prior to founding his own drive-in restaurants in Indianapolis named Knobby's. They were located on 38th Street in front of the Coliseum, 52nd and Keystone (this location was in the family for 53 years) and Knobby's Mai Tai, a Polynesian restaurant at Shadeland and 38th Street.

His passion was for flying, and he had owned seven airplanes.

Mr. Knoll was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Greencastle.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Lidiette F. Fait Knoll; sons Stanley Andrew Knoll and wife Tina of Mississippi and Thomas Michael Knoll and wife Sherry of Indianapolis; adopted daughter Kimberly Diane Knoll of Indianapolis; sister Mary Ruddell and husband John of St. Augustine, Fla.; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, his first wife Anna Catherine Knoll and sister Catherine Lorene Knoll preceded him in death.

Private entombment services were held in Washington Park North Cemetery in Indianapolis. Whitaker Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at cds@whitakerfuneralhome.net.