John Arthur Knapp

John Arthur Knapp was born on January 24, 1954, in the old Chillicothe Hospital. He was premature and was blind by the time he was one year old. He was the son of Arthur Henry Knapp and Esther Louise Driapsa Knapp of Bainbridge, Ohio, who preceded him in death.

John attended the State School for the Blind in Columbus, Ohio until he was in 9th grade when he started attending Edward Lee McClain High School in Greenfield, Ohio. He played piano by ear and played trumpet in the band and orchestra at Edward Lee McClain. He participated in the marching band, staying in the bleachers. John loved his debate team and was inducted into the Honor Society when he was a senior. He attended Capital University for a short while after graduation from high school in 1973.

John always worked and his last job was as a radiology transcriptionist. John loved history and loved engines. He had an engine he would run mounted on a picnic table in the carport. John was an avid ham radio operator and had many radio friends. He always amazed us how he could “hear” stationary objects such as parked cars when walking down the street.

John died suddenly on Thursday, April 30, 2026, and is survived by his sister, Iva Louise Knapp, MD, of Eden, NC. John is buried in the Bainbridge Cemetery with his parents.

The SMITH-MOORE-EBRIGHT Funeral Home, Bainbridge is serving the family.