Today in Wheeling History: July 3—Family and friends gathered in Moundsville for funeral services to honor Richard K. Knoblich, beloved educator, humorist, and “biggest liar in West Virginia,” whose storytelling legacy included a fictional account of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge collapse so convincing it was requested for inclusion—labeled as fiction—in a history book, capping a lifetime shaped by Wheeling’s public libraries, West Liberty education, and deep-rooted ties to the community’s scientific and cultural life (2024).
Richard "Rich" Knoblich was born January 21, 1953, and became one of West Virginia's most beloved storytellers and educators. Growing up as the middle child between sisters Libby and Nancy in the Wheeling area, Richard dedicated much of his life to entertaining and teasing them in equal measure. He earned his undergraduate degree at West Liberty University, working his way through college in the cafeteria and other odd jobs, later earning a master's degree. Richard married his high school sweetheart Sharon, enjoying an amazing 48-year marriage, and they had a son Trevor and granddaughter Eva.
Richard spent his career as a public elementary school teacher with Marshall County Schools, specializing in geology, astronomy, and physics. He was particularly noted for his classroom closet full of things that made noise or moved in wave motion to teach grade school lessons. As he neared retirement, his proclivity for jokes and long stories evolved into traditional Appalachian storytelling, winning eight ribbons from the West Virginia Liar's Contest and earning the title of "biggest liar in the state" with his golden shovel trophy. He self-published a book of his stories called "Talking 'bout the Relatives: Tales That Grow Taller with Each Telling".
Richard became increasingly fascinated with Wheeling's history, particularly Oglebay Park, turning his hobby into paid work giving lectures and Christmas bus tours at Oglebay, where his last job was with the Oglebay Welcome Center. His fictional story about the Wheeling Suspension Bridge collapse for Weelunk was so plausible that a historian contacted him for sources, and when he explained it was fiction, she asked to include it in a history book anyway. Richard died at age 71 on June 29, 2024, at WVU-Wheeling Hospital, survived by his wife Sharon, son Trevor, granddaughter Eva, and sisters.
To learn more: Grisell Funeral Home obituary (https://tinyurl.com/m7aa5veh), The Intelligencer obituary (https://tinyurl.com/4p79tmvw), Legacy.com memorial (https://tinyurl.com/yc5fk4yh), Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/bdh3bp89), Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/bdh3bp89), The Columbus Dispatch (https://tinyurl.com/5dwywxkp)
Photo credits: Legacy, Amazon
Richard "Rich" Knoblich was born January 21, 1953, and became one of West Virginia's most beloved storytellers and educators. Growing up as the middle child between sisters Libby and Nancy in the Wheeling area, Richard dedicated much of his life to entertaining and teasing them in equal measure. He earned his undergraduate degree at West Liberty University, working his way through college in the cafeteria and other odd jobs, later earning a master's degree. Richard married his high school sweetheart Sharon, enjoying an amazing 48-year marriage, and they had a son Trevor and granddaughter Eva.
Richard spent his career as a public elementary school teacher with Marshall County Schools, specializing in geology, astronomy, and physics. He was particularly noted for his classroom closet full of things that made noise or moved in wave motion to teach grade school lessons. As he neared retirement, his proclivity for jokes and long stories evolved into traditional Appalachian storytelling, winning eight ribbons from the West Virginia Liar's Contest and earning the title of "biggest liar in the state" with his golden shovel trophy. He self-published a book of his stories called "Talking 'bout the Relatives: Tales That Grow Taller with Each Telling".
Richard became increasingly fascinated with Wheeling's history, particularly Oglebay Park, turning his hobby into paid work giving lectures and Christmas bus tours at Oglebay, where his last job was with the Oglebay Welcome Center. His fictional story about the Wheeling Suspension Bridge collapse for Weelunk was so plausible that a historian contacted him for sources, and when he explained it was fiction, she asked to include it in a history book anyway. Richard died at age 71 on June 29, 2024, at WVU-Wheeling Hospital, survived by his wife Sharon, son Trevor, granddaughter Eva, and sisters.
To learn more: Grisell Funeral Home obituary (https://tinyurl.com/m7aa5veh), The Intelligencer obituary (https://tinyurl.com/4p79tmvw), Legacy.com memorial (https://tinyurl.com/yc5fk4yh), Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/bdh3bp89), Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/bdh3bp89), The Columbus Dispatch (https://tinyurl.com/5dwywxkp)
Photo credits: Legacy, Amazon
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