The beloved Colonel James “Jimmy” Alfred Manning passed away on March 7, 2025, after a brief illness, even though he had been afflicted with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) for more than twenty years. Manning, the sole remaining child of the late Henry T. and Effie R. Manning of Emporia, VA, Orange, and Vaux Hall, NJ, was born in Vaux Hall in 1932 and grew up in Orange. He was a graduate of Orange High School and West Virginia State University, where he earned honors as a Distinguished Military Student and Graduate.
After graduation and receiving his Army commission, he served on active duty at Fort Sill, OK, in Germany, and at Ft. Lewis, WA. After relocating to Washington State, he made a life-changing decision to resign his Regular Army commission, revert to the Army Reserves, and pursue education as a lifelong goal. He retired from the United States Army Reserves at The Presidio of San Francisco as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics in 1985, following a military career spanning more than 32 years.
Manning worked for The Boeing Company, the Seattle Public School District, IBM, the U.S. Department of Education Region X, and the Washington State Government as the Director of Veterans and Military Education in the Higher Education Coordinating Board, from which he retired in 1997 after twenty years of service to veterans and military personnel pursuing higher education in Washington State.
He and his wife, Jeanne, sponsored the family of the late Richard Scott McConnell from Vietnam in 1982, becoming guardian ad litem and American “father and mother” figures for Sat Nguyen, Thu McConnell, and the late Hai McConnell.
After retirement, Manning remained active in education, military service, the Kappa Alpha Psi Alumni Seattle Chapter, the Northwest Kidney Center, the Boys & Girls Club of Lakewood, and the Lakewood Historical Society. He also served as Chapter President and Historian of the Greater Puget Sound Chapter of the 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association for more than ten years and was a life member of the national organization. Additionally, he was a Life Member of both the Reserve Officers of America (ROA) and the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) and was a member of the Mount Rainier Chapter of the latter organization.
Manning loved all aspects of life in the Pacific Northwest. He was an avid traveler, photographer, chef, social media maven, and Seahawks fan. He was also known for being a mentor, advocate, and historian.
He was predeceased by his wife, Jeanne; first wife, Patricia; brothers, Henry Robinson and George Russell; sister, Juanita Sydnor; stepson, Gideon Powell; and foster son, Hai Nguyen.
Manning is survived by two children, Michele and Arthur; eight stepchildren; two foster children; three nephews; two nieces; and a host of relatives and friends.
A The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 2:30 PM at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 345 S 312th Street, Federal Way, WA. In lieu of flowers, please offer your remembrances to the Northwest Kidney Center online or by calling 206-292-5351. Services by Neptune Society.
Source: Seattle Medium
