PAULA HENDERSON KNIGHT

July 15, 1927 – March 14, 2021

Paula Henderson Knight, 93, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2021 at her home in Newport Beach.

She was born on July 15, 1927 in Riverside, CA to Dora and Elmer Henderson. She graduated from Poly High School in Riverside, and UCLA with a degree in education. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, where she made many lifelong friends.

Paula married Taylor Knight on June 15, 1951. They began married life in Glendale, CA, where daughter Nancy was born in 1952. Taylor's career in the oil business took them to Coalinga, Long Beach, Taft, and finally Bakersfield.

Paula began her career working with children as a teacher in an Early Childhood Education program. At the height of her career she was Director of Child Development Services for Kern County.

Photography was a passion of hers, as was music, reading, travel, and cooking. She loved to bring friends and family together for cocktail hour and evenings around the dinner table.

In 1986 Paula and Taylor retired to Newport where they enjoyed life at the beach.

She was adventurous with technology and amazed her family with her computer skills.

After Taylor passed away in 2007, Paula was grateful to have a wonderful caregiver and companion, Manuela Amador. Paula and Manuela enjoyed good food, trips to Palm Springs and San Francisco, and an impressive collection of movies.

Paula is survived by her daughter Nancy, son-in-law Steve, granddaughter Sarah, and nephews Michael and Kevin Pleas.

She will be remembered for her elegance, warmth, and her famous smile. In remembrance of Paula, donations to www.families-forward.org, or a charity of your choice would be very much appreciated.