Richard Brewster Knowlton

Richard “Dick” Brewster Knowlton, age 83 of Gardner, Massachusetts, passed away on November 10, 2025, after a long battle with cancer.

Dick was born on June 1, 1942, in Worcester, MA to Dorothy and Sidney Knowlton. He attended Worcester Public Schools and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Geology from Clark University. It was during his time at Clark that he first met his wife-to-be, Margaret “Peg” (Beck) Knowlton.

Peg and Dick married on August 26, 1965, and joined the Peace Corps to teach children in the jungle of Batu Danau, Malaysia. Dick was extremely proud of their service with the Peace Corps, and he and Peg maintained lifelong friendships with other volunteers. Following his years in the Peace Corps, Dick joined the Navy and served in the Vietnam War.

Peg and Dick settled in Rutland, MA, and raised their family, son Kenneth “Ken” Knowlton and daughter Sharon Knowlton. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past year.

Dick was an avid nature photographer, and he and Peg loved birding all over the world. They served as volunteer caretakers of the Wachusett Meadow Princeton Wildlife Sanctuary for 12 years.

Dick will be greatly missed by his wife Peg; son Ken and wife Peg (Alisch) Knowlton with their family; daughter Sharon and husband John Strandberg, along with many more family members and friends.

Family and friends are invited to the Memorial Service on Friday, November 14, 11:00 am at Mack Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner, with burial to follow at Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton.