Thanks for the good link, a lof of funny pictures. 'SELF SUFFICIENCY IS ADDICTIVE' - I am an addict, that's for sure.
Upon disassembly and ispection found: plastic ignitor/regulator knob cracked and after every other TURN-OFF slipped one notch toward complete SHUT-OFF until ther is no more room to OPEN. Symptom: hard rotating of the knob - valve completely in shut-off.
Glued knob with craz y glue, but will call to order replacement. Thank you for you advice.