Raymond H. Knipe, Jr., 85, of Millbury and formerly of Worcester, expired on Thursday, September 29, 2011, in St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, after an illness.

He was born in Worcester on July 30, 1926, a son of the late Raymond H. Knipe, Sr. and Grace G. (Armstrong) Knipe, and lived there before moving to Millbury in 1979. After graduating from the Worcester High School of Commerce, he and his twin brother, Richard A. Knipe, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944. After training, he was assigned as a gunner in the Naval Armed Guard aboard the merchant vessel, S.S. KEITH VAWTER. He participated in the invasion and liberation of the Philippines and survived the sinking of his ship in Subic Bay, P.I. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Seaman First Class and was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one campaign star, the Liberation of the Philippines Medal with one campaign star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Mr. Knipe worked for 47 years as a union carpenter, a member of Carpenters Union Local #107, Worcester, before he retired. An avid golfer, he enjoyed playing at Clearview Country Club, Millbury, where he also worked part-time for many years.

He leaves his wife of 32 years, Irene M. (Savoie) Melanson Knipe; two children: a daughter, Gail (Knipe) Vigneault and her husband, Richard, of Worcester, and a son, Mark Melanson and his girlfriend, Christine Breault, of Millbury; a granddaughter, Rosann (Vigneault) Lavallee in Tennessee; six great-grandchildren: Christopher Melanson of Holden, Alex Melanson and Nathan Melanson, both of Millbury, Alexander Lavallee in Connecticut and Levi Wilks and Isabella Bentley, both in Tennessee; two sisters-in-law: Marion (Holmquist) Knipe of Worcester and Janice (Savoie) Griffith of Milford; several nephews and nieces, especially Howard and Diane Knipe of Princeton who were very close to him; and his former wife, Rose (Rioux) Knipe, of Worcester. He was predeceased by his beloved twin brother, Richard, of Worcester, who passed away in 2006.

Mr. Knipe’s funeral will be held at 11 AM on Monday, October 3, in Greendale Peoples Church, 25 Francis St., Worcester. The Reverend Ron Wilson will officiate. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours in Turgeon Funeral Home, 56 Main St., Millbury, on Sunday, October 2, from 5 to 8 PM.