DARTMOUTH — Priscilla Britt Knowlton of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, died on June 13, 2018, in New Bedford, MA. Mrs. Knowlton was born in Staten Island, New York in 1925 and was predeceased by her parents, Albert Britt and Dorothy Wellington Britt, as well as her sister Sarah (Sacia) Diamond and an infant brother, Henry.
She is survived by five loving children, Molly Britt Knowlton of St. Simons Island, Georgia; Elizabeth Burris Knowlton of Bath, Maine; Peter Quackenbush Knowlton and wife Lucia of South Dartmouth; Joy Wheeler Knowlton and partner Greg Moebius of Bristol, Maine; and Britt Knowlton of Portland, Maine. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren: Abby Tucker of Bedford, New Hampshire; Jordan Knowlton-Randall and wife Kelly of Gorham, Maine; Neil Knowlton-Randall and wife Jennifer of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Lydia Field of Boston; Benjamin Field of Kaneohe, Hawaii; Michelle Maciel of New Bedford and Debbie Pacheco of Acushnet, and six great and great-great grandchildren. Her family and extended family members will miss her presence tremendously.
Mrs. Knowlton attended Newton High School in Newton, Massachusetts and then graduated from Vassar College, where she majored in mathematics, in 1946. She married George William Knowlton IV of Worcester in 1947. They soon moved to neighboring Holden where they raised their five children. As a member of the Junior League of Worcester she volunteered in their Remedial Reading and Bookmobile programs. She was also actively involved with the Worcester Players’ Club, Bancroft School and Massachusetts Audubon Society in Princeton. The family spent their summers at Salter’s Point in South Dartmouth. Her parents and many relatives had a home in neighboring Nonquitt.
In 1982 Mrs. Knowlton relocated to South Dartmouth with her youngest child, Britt. She continued her volunteering activities there at Rotch-Jones-Duff Museum, WHALE (Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE), Dartmouth Resources Trust, and Zeiterion Theater. She was also an enthusiastic Dartmouth High School marching band parent and often worked the concession stand at events.
She was an ardent participant in both the Worcester and New Bedford area’s AA communities. Her family and friends have deep appreciation for the support and friendship these circles offered her over the years. Mrs. Knowlton will be remembered for her indelible and extraordinary gift of conversation, sense of humor and quick wit, intelligence and her concern for family, her community, and her country. Her family would especially like to acknowledge the love and care shown to Priscilla by the staff at Brandon Woods Nursing Home in New Bedford during her last five years.
A service in her memory will be held on August 11, 2018, at 11:00 AM, at 775 Horseneck Road in Westport, Ma. Donations in her name may be made to The Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust on their website or by mail: P0 Box 70567, Dartmouth, MA 02747.