Dr. Robert “Ray” Knowles, 95, of De Soto died Jan. 23, 2019, at his home.
Dr. Knowles was a graduate of Medical School University in Sydney, Australia, and did his internship in Australia and his residency in England. He served as medical superintendent at Kentucky State Hospital in Danville, Ky., Missouri State Hospital #4 in Farmington and the Arsenal Street St. Louis State Hospital. He was on staff at SSM Health St. Mary Hospital, Deaconess Hospital and St. Anthony’s Medical Center, all in the St. Louis area. He was associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Missouri’s Missouri Institute of Psychiatry and clinical professor of psychiatry at St. Louis University. He was a member of the American Medical Association, Missouri State Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Medical Society. He retired from private practice in 2000 but served several temporary assignments at various Southern Missouri hospitals. Born Nov. 17, 1923, in Sydney, Australia, he was the son of the late Doris (Jagers) and Lyle Knowles.
He is survived by his wife: Judy (Schembre) Lambert-Knowles; his former wife and mother of his daughters: Dorothy Knowles; three daughters: Alison Frazier of Austin, Texas, Elizabeth Knowles of St. Loui and Sally Knowles of Tucson, Ariz.; two sons: Jim (Lisa) Lambert of Festus and John (Cathy) Lambert of Festus; a brother: Kevin (the late Jean) Knowles of Sydney; five grandchildren: Helen Moran of Brooklyn, N.Y., Rufus Frazier of London, England, James Koester of St. Louis, Abigail Knowles of Tucson, Ariz., and Jesse Knowles of Tucson; four step-grandchildren: Nikolas (Megan) Lambert of Festus, Melissa (Keith) Oster of Festus, Tyler (Amy) Rudd of Hillsboro and Taylor (Brandon) Ziegler of Crystal City; four great-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
Family services were private. Memorials may be made to the American Medical Association. Arrangements were under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus.