James R. Knoll, 97, EHS grad, owned J & E Rental Center, passionate amateur mycologist

James R. Knoll died on Nov. 6, 2017, at 97 years of age at the Willow Valley Retirement Community, Lancaster, where he and his wife Elsie (Weber) Knoll resided for the past 22 years.

Born in Wernersville, his family moved to Akron when Jim was four. He graduated from Ephrata High School and earned his bachelor of science from Penn State University in 1942. He first worked for Shell Oil in Aruba, and later for Research Cottrell, a pollution control company based in New Jersey. Jim then moved his family to Wernersville and began his own business, owning and operating coin-operated laundromats. He later established J & E Rental Center in Ephrata, where he and Elsie lived for 18 years.

Jim was a passionate amateur mycologist who was instrumental in founding the Eastern Penn Mushroomers. He also loved to garden.

Jim is survived by his wife: Elsie; his two daughters: Suzanne Powell and Bonnie Richardson; his grandchildren: Elizabeth and Eric Powell; and his great-grandchild: Kolton Powell.

Services will be private.

To send an online condolence, visit gravenorhomeforfunerals.com. Gravenor Home for Funerals, Ephrata, handled the arrangements.