Leslie A. Knight, 83, “The Oak Harbor Fuller Brush Man,” died Nov. 12, 2005 at Mission Healthcare in Bellevue. He was born Aug. 22, 1922 in Ferndale, Wash., to Earl and Mabel Knight.
Leslie grew up in the Ferndale area, attending the North Star School. He attended high school at Whatcom High and continued his education at Western Washington College until his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1942. He served four years and was honorably discharged in 1946. He returned to the Bellingham area where he met Thelma Lunde. They dated for three years and were married on April 28, 1949. Les became part owner and operator of City Cab Company in Bellingham, until starting with the Fuller Brush Company in 1957.
Leslie Knight began calling on people on Whidbey Island for the Fuller Brush Company and in 1960 he moved the family to Oak Harbor, where they raised their family. He was known on sight by most residents as “The Fuller Brush Man” and was usually seen carrying his case from door-to-door.
People who didn’t know Leslie in the earlier days may recognize him from his favorite pastime: fishing. He was often seen launching his boat at Cornet Bay and heading out to fish wherever he thought they might be biting. His greatest joy was inviting family and friends over to his house for barbecued salmon, which he cooked in his large barbeque pit.
Leslie is survived by his wife of 56 years, Thelma, as well as daughter Sandy Lindgren of Oak Harbor, son Randy Knight with wife Kay of Arlington, son Greg Knight with wife Shelly and son Ron Knight with wife Kelly, all of Mount Vernon, also a sister Evalyn Goeringer of Concrete. He also leaves grandchildren Connie and Jeff Lindgren, Ray, Gail, Mike, Ryan, Josh and Christian Knight and Laura Pierce. He also is survived by one great grandchild, Levi Knight.
Services for Leslie Knight were held Nov. 18 at Burley Funeral Chapel, followed by interment at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers contributions might be made in his name to either The American Diabetes Association or The Alzheimer’s Association.
