Melba M. (Ruper) Knapp, 73, of Forestville, died Oct. 18, 2004 at Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk.
     Mrs. Knapp was a 1949 graduate of Cattaraugus Central School. She had been employed at the Gowanda Tannery and Forbes and Wagner in Silver Creek.
     She was a member of the Forestville Firemen’s Auxiliary, Ladies Home Bureau and the Sunday Nite Bowling league.
     She was the wife of George W. Knapp of Forestville; daughter of the late Ernest Sr. and Edith (Hilliman) Ruper; mother of George W. Knapp III of Forestville, Barbara A. Knapp of Buffalo, and the late Donald and Cindy Knapp; stepmother of Sandra L. (Knapp) Daminski of Seguin, TX; and sister of Harrietta Hasper and Virginia Tegler, both of Ellicottville, Lester Ruper of Sarasota, FL, and the late Ernest Ruper Jr. and John Ruper Sr.; also survived by five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, three step great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
     Arrangements were by the Riles and Woolley Funeral Home, Forestville.