Sheriff George Edward Knupp Jr.

Sheriff George Edward Knupp, Jr., 70 of Eustis, Florida, passed away on Thursday, December 16, 2010. A native of Harrisonburg, Va., Knupp moved to Lake in 1975. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in criminal justice from Rollins College in Winter Park. Knupp served five years with the Maitland Police Department, 14 years with the Orange County Sheriff's Office and eight years with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. He first filed to run for Lake sheriff in 1984 but lost to incumbent Noel "Evvie" Griffin. In 1988, Knupp made another attempt, defeating Griffin in the primary and eventually winning the general election. As sheriff, he brought in new K-9 dogs and a new 911 emergency telephone system to the department. He also gave his deputies new semi-automatic pistols and built up a SWAT team. The department also opened a substation in Clermont to handle calls in growing south Lake. Knupp also took aim at jail comforts. In addition to shutting off cable TV, he stopped newspaper subscriptions to jail inmates and required them to start paying to see a doctor. He loved a bargain and was known for going on shopping sprees for federal surplus equipment and, in his personal life, clipping coupons. Knupp attempted a comeback two years ago but lost a Republican primary challenge to Borders. "I love the Sheriff's Office and I love the people of this county," Knupp said at the time. He is survived by Wife - Carrie Ann Knupp of Eustis, FL; Daughters - Carey Anne DeLibro of Mount Dora, FL, Georgeanna Gannaway of Mount Dora, FL, and Kristianna Nicole Knupp of Venice Beach, CA; Step-Father - Charles Townsend of Harrisonburg, VA; Brothers - John W. Knupp of West Palm Beach, FL, Herman F. Knupp of Ocala, FL, and Bernie Knupp of Virginia; Sisters - Margurite Everidge of Harrisonburg, VA, and Virginia Knupp of Montana and 6 Grandchildren. Visitation will be held at St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church, Eustis on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 from 9:30 AM till 10:45 AM. Funeral Mass will follow 10:45 AM. Interment will be held at Pine Forest Cemetery, Mount Dora. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, Florida 32064. Arrangements by Harden-Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis.