Donna Knox

The Lord called mom home on August 8th 2026 after a battle with dementia.

Donna Irene Knox (Stockham) was born to William (Bill) Roth and Gereldine (Jerry) Florance Stockham in Portsmouth Ohio on June 8th 1946. She spent her early years living in West Portsmouth before grandpa moved the family to the west side of Columbus to work for Greyhound. Mom spent her teenage years swimming in the backyard pool with her little brother and older sister while developing a friendship with the two boys next door, Gary and Bill Knox.

After graduating from Franklin Heights High School, mom worked briefly for Ohio Bell. During this time, she attempted to set dad up with friends; after several failed attempts mom realized she was dad’s perfect match. They wed on June 11th 1967, while dad was home on leave from his service in the US Army. Married for just over 59 years, friends for nearly 70, they raised five kids together, three boys and two girls. Mom spent the next 20-25 years as a stay-at-home mom taking care of us kids, running from one sporting event to the next, mixing in Sunday school and vacation bible school. In her early 40’s mom found a new calling – American Sign Language. While worshipping at Highland Baptist’s Deaf Chapel, mom developed a love for sign language. Feeding off that passion, mom earned an associate’s degree in ASL from Columbus State. Using her degree, mom worked until retirement in Columbus City Schools as an interpreter. Mom lived and breathed ASL for the remainder of her life; teaching all 14 of her grandbabies how to sign “I love you” and “I’m hungry”, way before they said mom or dad. Every goodbye kiss and hug was followed with a signed “I love you”.

Mom had many friends and loved ones; she will be missed by all! She is deeply loved!

Mom is preceded in death by her parents William and Geraldine Stockham and her sister Carol Sue (Sis) Hinton (Jeff). She is survived by her brother Scott Edward Stockham (Kathy), her husband of 59 years, William (Bill) James Knox, her boys William Christopher (Chris) Knox, Robin (Rob) Lee Knox, James Aaron Knox (Brittney), her girls Elizabeth (Liza) Jane Boso (Andy) and Melanie (Mel) Ann Dains (Dillon), fourteen grandchildren and two great granddaughters.