Patricia Ann Knudsen

GRAY – Patricia Ann Knudsen, beloved family matriarch, dedicated volunteer and career woman, and intrepid world traveler, died peacefully at home in Gray on May 27, 2024 at the age of 93.

Pat was truly a woman for the ages. Strong, independent, and resourceful. Beautiful, classy, and statuesque. Handy with tools and home repairs, as well as an accomplished seamstress and knitter.

Born in 1931 in Grafton, W.Va. to Hubert “Shorty” and Eva (Colebank) Custer, Pat also spent memorable childhood years in Maryland and Delaware. She graduated from Newark High School in 1948.

In 1963, she married David Knudsen who she met while working at Eastern Air Devices in Dover, N.H. Together, they raised two children and shared a remarkable 58-year partnership. They were the best of teammates in life, house and boat projects, and supporting each other’s endeavors. Some of their happiest years were spent living in Northfield, Vt. in the 1960s and ’70s where David was a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Norwich University and Pat was an active faculty wife and community volunteer.

Pat’s long career as a certified travel agent enabled her to indulge in her love of travel. She worked initially at McPherson Travel and Milne Travel in Vermont, then with Astro Travel in Solon, Ohio. In 1988 she and David moved to Maine where she was manager for the AAA office in South Portland for 22 years – retiring at the age of 79. She travelled to every continent except Antarctica. Ever adventuresome well into her senior years, she went zip lining in Costa Rica in her 60s, rode a camel in Egypt in her 70s, experienced the thrill of a hot air balloon ride in Turkey in her 80s and did two transatlantic cruises in her 90s.

Her volunteer activities were every bit as meaningful to her, including Cub Scout Den Mother, Girl Scout Leader, community education program (in Northfield, Vt.), Norwich University Parents’ Association, Red Cross Volunteer, Portland, Sunrise Rotary Club, and the Portland Headlight. She was honored as a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, and a Red Cross 10-gallon blood donor.

To her friends and family she will forever be our hero, role model, inspiration, and “big boss.”

Pat was predeceased by her beloved husband, David Knudsen (2021); sister, Nancy Ebbert; and niece, Cynthia Ebbert.

She will be lovingly missed by her daughter, Sherry Knudsen, son, Fred Knudsen (wife Nicha); grandsons Grant Knudsen (wife Shireen), Geoffrey Knudsen (wife Elise d’Amboise), and Ben Ziemke (partner Clio Briggs), step-grandson, Bim Rodruedee; great-grandsons Noah and Oliver Knudsen; and dear friend, Maxine Neal.

If you wish, contributions in memory of Pat may be made to Portland Sunrise Satellite Rotary Club,

P.O. Box 1755,

Portland, ME 04102