CENTER HARBOR - Son, Brother, Soldier, Husband, Father, Rural Letter Carrier, Fireman, Tax Collector, Fire Chief, Grandfather. Gene Manville has been all of these things. For more than 88 years in the town of Center Harbor, everyone knew Gene because of one of these titles. Born in the house he has now passed away in, Gene lived his whole life in Center Harbor and never wanted to be anywhere else.
Gene was born on April 22, 1928 in the upstairs bedroom at 29 Kelsea Avenue to Leon and Lizzie (Greene) Manville. He is brother to Lillian Rachele of Oregon. He married his lovely bride, Priscilla Collins Manville in 1953, and after his parents death moved into his childhood home and made it a home for his wife and 5 children. Melanie Heinis of Laconia, Connie Johnson, Ellen Fortgang, Priscilla Manville, and Leon Manville all of Center Harbor, will all miss this man of few words but his heart of gold will always be remembered. He also leaves 8 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The Army wanted him for helicopter repairs for a couple of years in the early 50’s and after his tour he returned to Center Harbor where he began his married life with Priscilla, which stretched to almost 63 loving years. He loved his job carrying mail to the rural parts of town. Gene joined the fire department to eventually follow in his Fathers steps and become Chief. If you hadn’t encountered Gene in his Letter Carrier job, which he held for 30 years, or as a fireman or Chief, a firefighting volunteer position that he occupied for 40+ years, you surely knew him because he was the town Tax Collector for 20 years. Usually people were happy to see him deliver mail or put out fires, not so happy to see him at tax time!
In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the idea of setting up a totally new and untried Regional Communications Center to help neighboring towns during fires and medical emergencies, came to the forefront and Gene was instrumental in setting up the current Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid Communications Center, initially encompassing 21 towns in the Lakes Region area. It has now grown to cover 35 communities.
From the inception of this plan Gene served on the Executive Committee that established the Communications Center. He, along with several other fire chiefs, figured out the logistics involved, equipment needs and the necessary radio system that has evolved into a model that others systems copy but rarely improve upon.
Eugene was an active parent in the PTA at the two- room schoolhouse in Center Harbor (that he himself went to in his youth). Gene was a long time member of the Center Harbor Congregational Church and served as a State Representative for the Rural Letter Carriers, couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, enjoyed his motorcycle for many years, loved pepperoni pizza, popcorn and malted milk balls were favored treats, traveled across the United States, twice, with 5 children in a trailer the size of a VW Bug, did more traveling with Mom after the kids grew up, almost never wore shorts and always considered his family first in all matters. Gene was a Gentleman farmer for many years and loved cucumbers.
The burial will be private with no viewing and no calling hours.
A memorial service will be held Saturday November 26th at 1pm at the Center Harbor Congregational Church,52 Main St, Center Harbor .
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice, 780 North Main St., Laconia, NH 03246. Numerous members of this agency handled Gene professionally and compassionately, with dignity, respect, and affection.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.