Francis J. "Butch" Manning, 81, of New Bedford died Monday July 10, 2006 at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. He was the husband of Grace L. (Lardner) Manning.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Francis J. and Bridget (Coughlin) Manning, he lived in New Bedford for most of his life. He was a graduate of Holy Family High School.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church.
Mr. Manning was formerly employed as the Director of Management for the New Bedford Housing Authority until his retirement.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, participating in the Battles of Northern France, Central Europe, and the Rhineland. He was a member of the American Legion Post 1.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Francis J. Manning, Jr., of Warwick, RI; a daughter, Patricia Keppler, and her husband Kevin, of Bellingham; a brother, Gerald Manning of New Bedford; two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Joseph Keppler; and several nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Earl Manning.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 9:30 AM in Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. Visiting hours Wednesday 6-8PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford.