This memorial website was created to remember Valentine "Val" B. McKnight who was born in Budapest, Hungary on September 14, 1926 and passed away on July 20, 2008. He will live forever in our memories and hearts.
Valentine “Val” B. McKnight, 81, of Peoria, passed away at 9:54 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, 2008, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
He was born Valentine Balint Mariahegyi on September 14, 1926 in Budapest, Hungary, son of a Hungarian Knight, Balint Mariahegyi, and his wife, Maria (Heray). He married Ruby P. Fulop on August 9, 1947 in Budapest. She preceded him in death on October 22, 1988 in Peoria.
Val is survived by his son, Bela L. McKnight, Sr. of Peoria; daughter, Susan E. Palmer of Quincy; grandson, Bela L. (Niccole) McKnight, Jr. of Peoria; granddaughter, Jennifer R. Palmer of Quincy; sister, Elizabeth Takacs of Cleveland, OH; nieces, Martha Takacs of Mentor, OH and Kathy Takacs of Cleveland; great nieces, Jannette and Alia Haloua of Cleveland; and a great great niece, Athena of Cleveland.
Val earned his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Electrical Engineering from Technical University of Budapest. He was an associate professor, teaching manufacturing sciences and engineering from 1950 to 1954 at the Institute of Technology in Budapest. He also served as a lieutenant in the Hungarian Military Academy in 1954. From 1954 to 1956, Val was the Manager of Engineering and Plant Operations at the Ministry of Building and Construction in Budapest.
From 1957 to 1966, Val served as the Supervisor of General Engineering for Canadian British Aluminum in Baie Comeau, Quebec, Canada.
In 1966, Val fulfilled a lifelong dream and moved his family to the United States. He served as a Plant Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc. at their corporate headquarters in Peoria, retiring on June 1, 1997.
While employed with Caterpillar, Val presented several seminars and published many technical documents. He was a member of numerous associations and committees, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Institute of Plant Engineers and the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers.
Val was named Plant Engineer of the Year Chapter Award for 1976/77 by the American Institute of Plant Engineers and Plant Engineer of the Year Regional-Midwest Award for 1977/78 by the American Institute of Plant Engineers.
He was formerly active and had served as president of the American Hungarian Society of Peoria and was a member of the Mohammed Temple Shrine of Peoria. He was also a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria and was formerly active in their Dart Ball League.
Val enjoyed going to casinos and dance clubs; playing cards and the lottery; sunbathing; dining out; watching soccer and tennis; and keeping up with politics. He even served as a member of the Republican Presidential Task Force.
He had a great love of music and was very diverse in his musical tastes. He enjoyed Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones and Disco. He had to have something with a beat.
Val collected magnets from all of his travels, items made of copper, awards and plaques that he received and especially pictures of his friends and family…Polaroid’s. He received his greatest enjoyment in life from flowers, sunshine, good company, travel, cucumber salad, Hungarian dishes, family gatherings, toasts with champagne…and women. He was quite charismatic with the ladies.
He will be remembered as clean and tidy, stylish and detail oriented. Val left his mark for his professional accomplishments, his love of life, his courage, his quest for freedom and his desire to become an American.
Of all of his experiences and accomplishments, he was proudest when he received his U.S. Citizenship in September of 1971 and thus solidifying his love of freedom.
A Celebration of Val’s Life will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2008, at his church, with Rev. Anna C. Saxon officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. in the church parlor. Cremation rites have been accorded and interment of the cremated remains will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Clary Funeral Home in Peoria.
| keith kowalis |
friend |
July 28, 2008 |
My deepest sympathy goes out to all the family. You are in my prayers. I started out as a salesman calling on Val in 1985, and we became good friends during this time period until his retiremnet. I can't recall another person who enjoyed this country and it's freedoms more than Val.
If ever you were down, Val could lift your mood, that's for sure. We had some good times, and me being 30 years younger, most of the time, I couldn't keep up with him. You all know what I mean!
He was one of a kind. He will be missed by all that knew him. God bless your family.
Keith
| Mari /Austin, Texas |
friend of Suzy and family |
July 27, 2008 |
Hello from Texas...wish I could be there with you during this time of your dads passing. Your dad was a great man. He always had a smile on his face and obviously enjoyed and lived a full life. He will be missed. My deepest sympathies
to you and Bela and family.
| Karen & Marisa DeMarini |
guitar friends of Bela |
July 26, 2008 |
We are so very sorry to hear of the loss of your grandfather. What a life he led! You are in our thoughts.
| Andras and Irene Fule |
Nephew of Val's Sister from Toronto, Canada |
July 25, 2008 |
We share your sorrow at this sad time. Please, accept our deepest sympathy.
| Shirley & Roger Roemer |
Friends/Co-workers |
July 25, 2008 |
We would like to express our sympathy for your loss. Val & Ruby stood up with us at our wedding in Vegas in 1978. I worked with Val at Caterpillar and were in contact for a number of years. I spent some time with Ruby during her illness.
Shirley Roemer
