Obituary of Lois Knox
Lois Marie Knox, a woman whose extraordinary life was defined by a daring and adventurous spirit, passed away peacefully of natural causes on August 19, 2025, at the age of 94 in Morris Plains, NJ. Born December 7, 1930, in Titusville, PA, to Phillip and Marie Starner, Lois approached every new horizon with courage, a quick wit, and a signature laugh that endeared her to all.
Lois grew up in Dunellen, NJ, the second of four sisters. Driven by a pioneering ambition, she became the first in her family to attend college, earning a microbiology degree from Douglass College at Rutgers University. This bold step launched her to New York City, where she quickly became a respected microbiologist in the Virology department at Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals. While in NYC, she embraced the city’s energy, famously dancing with Fred Astaire in his studio and developing lifelong passions for the Mets and tennis.
Adventure was Lois's true calling. She was a licensed pilot who undertook several cross-country trips in a private plane. Her global escapades with her second husband, Professor John (Jack) Knox, were legendary. She visited all 50 U.S. states, toured Europe, and traveled extensively throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. Perhaps most famously, she caught a piranha in the Amazon and had it for dinner, a testament to her fearless approach to new experiences.
Her travels with family were equally memorable and often colorful. She once drove cross-country on a camping trip with her sons, only to realize the tent had flown off the car roof somewhere between Michigan and Indiana. On another trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, she remained remarkably calm when a 400lb black bear put its head inside the family tent while she was resting with her children, Kurt and Walter. Miraculously, all family members always returned from their many expeditions intact, though perhaps with a few more stories to tell.
An accredited member of MENSA, "Low-ee" loved entertaining and engaging in spirited debates, embracing her ardent liberal views with infectious enthusiasm. A lover of fine dining and spirits, far more than culinary preparation, she especially enjoyed holiday feasts with her family and life long friend , Janet Foord. She lived in Dunellen and later Hilton Head, SC, and Greenville, SC, before returning to Bridgewater, NJ. Her nurturing spirit, unwavering support, and boundless love will always be cherished by her two sons, Kurt and Walter Uhlman. The family also extends its gratitude to her dedicated aides, Valerie Conn in Greenville SC and Parul Chentri and Daisy Essel in Bridgewater, NJ
Lois is predeceased by her husband, Jack Knox, and her sister, Pauline Waterman, as well as her first husband, Dr, Walter E, Uhlman. She is survived by two sisters, Elinor Cummings and Phillis Greninger; her sons, Kurt and Walter Uhlman; two stepchildren, Amethy and Trevor Knox; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Details for her celebration of life memorial will be announced privately!
Donations may be made in Lois’ memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org.)