ONEONTA - Oren C. "Doc" Knapp, 90, passed away on May 10, 2017 in A.O. Fox Hospital, Oneonta after a brief illness.

Doc was born on August 10, 1926 to Raymond and Millie Knapp and raised with his 10 brothers and sisters on the family farm on the Ouleout in North Franklin, NY.

Doc lettered in baseball and basketball at the Franklin Literary Institute under the mentorship of coach and friend Wendell Cook.
Like his 3 brothers, Doc served in the United States Navy during World War II in the South Pacific. He served aboard L.S.T. 699 as a cook.

Following the war, he married Ethel Wheeler and settled in the Town of Oneonta to raise his family. He worked for the New York Telephone Company for 43 years as a cable splicer and later right of way of agent.

His lifelong love for baseball led him to become active in the Oneonta Little League program, spearheading the construction of the baseball field in the 6th Ward. He was always delighted when former Little Leaguers greeted him. Doc took enormous pride when the field was formally dedicated Doc Knapp Field in 1966, regarding it as a wonderful legacy.

His other passion was golf and a highlight was his winning the Otsego County Championship Atchinson Cup in 1980. As a member of the Masonic Order, Doc served as a director of the N.Y.S. Masonic Golf Association.

Doc was very active in his community, serving on the Town of Oneonta Republican Committee, the Otsego County Planning Board, the Oneonta City School Board and the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church.

Doc was a Telephone Pioneer and a proud member of the U.S. LST Association, whose annual conventions around the country enabled him to reunite with his shipmates.

Doc was predeceased by his wife, his parents and siblings, Katherine, Edwin, Gladys Rosher, Raymond "Pete' Knapp, Franklin "Bill" Knapp, Agnes "Pat" Anderson, Harriet Thayer, Wilford "Spike" Knapp, and Lucy Muehl.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Ann McNulty; his children, Gary (Kathleen) Knapp, John Knapp, and Sharon Knapp; his grandchildren, Garrison (Kim) Knapp, Nicholas (Runa) Knapp, John J. Knapp and his mother, Nancy (Dennis) Kemmeter, and great grandchildren, Tyler, Alina, Amaya, and Kalen. Doc is also survived by sisters-in-law, Ruth Wheeler, Violet Knapp, Carol Lee Wheeler and Joan (Douglas) Bush and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2017 at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.

The funeral service will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 16th at the First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Oneonta, with Rev. Teressa Sivers, officiating.

Interment with military honors will follow at the Oneonta Plains Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the Oneonta Little League Foundation, Community Bank, N.A. Trust Department, 245 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820, Attention: Shannon Hyzer.

Online condolences may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com