William Knafel

William John Knafel of Fairlawn passed away at Copley Health Center on February 1 2006 at age 79. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Ellen Crews. Bill was a U.S. Navy veteran during World War II while stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Center he pitched for the Blue Jackets Baseball Team. He sponsored many youth baseball leagues ladies bowling teams softball teams all of which won championships and also gave memberships and financial aid to many Y.M.C.A. youth. He leaves to mourn his passing his loving wife Janet (Bolin) Knafel. They had recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary their three children: Debra Knafel of New Philadelphia John (Sharon) Knafel of Akron and William A. Knafel; grandchildren Kimberly (Luke) Williams Jessica (Will) Teeple Matthew and Andrew Knafel; six great-grandchildren Jamie Gill Darion John and Olivea Williams Madyson and Davin Teeple. He was a member of St. Hilary Church Fairlawn; also the oldest member of Hill'n Dale club in Medina. Mr. Knafel has been operator/ owner of nine new car franchises. Six Ford and General Motors Dealerships. Knafel Pontiac was one of the largest volume Pontiac Dealerships and placed within the top ten percent of Pontiac Dealerships for over 20 years. His World Class Racing Team is a legend. In addition Mr. Knafel successfully owned and operated a vehicle leasing business Knafel Leasing and a finance corporation Knafel Finance Corp. He is a former member of AADA OADA NADA Pontiac Dealer Council G.M. President's Council & Ford National Sales Leaders. Mr. Knafel is the author of the famous sales training manual '5 STEPS TO SUCCESS © '. First written in 1947 and over 30 000 in print. The only step-by-step psychological sales training manual which is used by the most successful dealers in North America (and the most copied). He was also the owner of Yorktown Custom Arms Yorktown Marine and Law Enforcement Products Inc. He also owned and operated Tin Indian Motors on Waterloo Road. He also operated Gold Seal Corporation a consulting firm helping new car dealers with re-capitalizing until he retired due to ill health. Mr. Knafel's Pontiac Dealerships provided research and development of chassis and powertrains for Pontiac's Motor Racing Division. His racing team 'Tin Indians �' has won numerous national and world championships and is unsurpassed in setting track records every year for 12 years. Credited with assisting in developing the Pontiac GTO and Firebird TransAm. NASCAR National champion 2 years in a row and voted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Also the Dapper Dan Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 for bringing back to Akron over 200 national and world championships for his Tin Indian � racing team. Our heartfelt thanks to all the staff at Copley Health Center and to the VNS. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday February 4 2006 12:00 PM at Hummel Funeral Home COPLEY 3475 Copley Rd. Friends may call at the funeral home two hours prior to service. Private family interment.