Humble but dedicated champion of Bethel Park community

A decorated veteran of World War II who was describedby friends as a humble man for whom integrity and honesty were paramount, William A. Knaus personified theGreatest Generation.

The 97-year-old Bethel Park resident died Sunday, leaving behind a legacy as a family man, a local volunteer and the longtime owner of Colonial Taxi Co.

Mr. Knaus was born in Washington, Pa., to Anton and Leni Knaus and was preceded in death by his brothers Oswald and Anton “Tony” Knaus Jr.

In 1923, the family relocated to Bethel Park, where Mr. Knaus’ father opened Knaus General Store at Brightwood and South Park roads.

Mr. Knaus’ first job was clearing horse manure from the parking lot.

“I have a picture of my dad from the 1920s in front of the store with a horse and buggy,” said his daughter, Barbara Mistick. “In those days, all of the grocery stores delivered.”

Mr. Knaus graduated from Bethel Park High School in 1940 and joined the Army Air Forces the following year. He served in Europe and North Africa and was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service in World War II.

The war also served as an education for Mr. Knaus.

While he was stationed in Tunisia in 1944, Mr. Knaus became the subject of a Saturday Evening Post story when he set up an egg-buying consortium among soldiers.

At that time, ready-to-eat meals were not yet available, so food was locally sourced. In Tunisia, that included eggs, which were a staple in the diet of many soldiers.

Ms. Mistick said eggs that originally cost 2 cents apiece when the Army arrived were hiked by local merchants to 40 cents as demand grew. Her father wrangled a deal with local farmers, purchasing as many as 160,000 eggs every week for 3 cents each. He passed the savings on to other units.

The Saturday Evening Post chronicled Mr. Knaus’ ingenuity in a May 1944 article titled, “Where There’s a Yank, There’s a Way.”

Mr. Knaus deftly parlayed that same entrepreneurial spirit into other facets of his life, returning to Bethel Park shortly after his father’s death in 1948 to help run the family business, which by then also included the construction of several rental properties.

During that time, Mr. Knaus purchased the cab company, which he operated until his retirement in 1988.

His daughter said it wasn’t easy to navigate the hardscrabble taxi industry, especially at a time when it was heavily regulated.

“My dad was tough,” she said. “He was in a tough business.”

In the early 1950s, Mr. Knaus met Georgiana Barbarich at a social club dance in Baldwin. The two married on Aug. 8, 1954, and raised four children.

In the later years of his life, Mr. Knaus was an ardent supporter of veterans, but like so many of his fellow World War II soldiers, he couldn’t bring himself to accept accolades or honors for his own service. He declined efforts by Bethel Park officials to give him an award, and he had to be tricked by family members into attending a ceremony in his honor.

While he volunteered in a number of areas, including the Bethel Park planning commission, zoning board and parks committee, it was his role as a founding member of the committee to complete the Bethel Park Veterans Memorial where Mr. Knausreally made his mark.

“Once he took it on, it was getting finished,” Ms. Mistick said about her father’s determination to complete the project, which had stalled in previous years. “He leveraged every contact he had. He was the driving force behind it.”

Allegheny County Councilwoman Sue Means said Mr. Knaus was “instrumental” in completing the memorial at the Bethel Park municipal building, which was dedicated in 1999.

“I really got to know him in recent years,” said Ms. Means, who recalled shopping at the Knaus family market as a child. “I just would love to hear him talk about World War II. I could listen to him for hours.”

Ms. Means spearheaded an effort last year to recognize Mr. Knaus’ contribution to the memorial and the community with a proclamation from the county.

But, of course, Mr. Knaus didn’t want the fuss, she said.

“Bill was a very humble person. I think he would give money anonymously to causes,” Ms. Means said. “He was a man of quality and integrity. He was salt of the earth.”

Bethel Park council President Timothy Moury agreed.

“Bill was a great person and really cared about Bethel Park,” he said. “He has been such a big part of the community, including the veterans memorial, trolley line beautification, renovation on the Schoolhouse Arts & History Center, just to name a few, and never wanted any recognition, just wanted to help his community. Bill will be gone but never forgotten.”

Flags at the memorial are flying at half-staff and a wreath will be placed at the site in Mr. Knaus’ honor.

Ms. Mistick said she will miss conversations with her father the most.

“I’m just going to miss talking to him,” she said. “He had really good advice about everything.”

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Knaus is survived by his other children, Anton W. Knaus, Deedra K. Knaus and Carole A. Knaus. He had five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Friends will be received from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Paul Henney Cremation & Funeral Tributes in Bethel Park. A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Valentine Catholic Church.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Bethel Park Historical Society, 2600 South Park Road, Bethel Park 15102; Bethel Park American Legion, Post 760, 2409 Bethel Church Road, Bethel Park 15102; or the Bethel Park Veterans Memorial, 5100 W. Library Ave., Bethel Park 15102.