Paul Patrick Manning

Patrick “Papa Pat” passed away on Monday, August 30th, in Klipsan Beach, Washington, surrounded by his children, Matthew Manning and Mary Patrice Lathrop. Patrick was born at home in Waverly, Kentucky to Paul Purcel Manning and Mildred Agnes Vowels. He attended St. Vincents Catholic School for grades 1-12. His father was a farmer, ammunition factory worker, and worked for L & N Railroad (the Louisville to Nashville rail line). Patrick’s mother was a homemaker until his father passed away from a sudden heart attack and Mildred went to work at the local Dairy Maid. By this time, Patrick was in the Air Force stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB in North Carolina. He served from 1958 – 1962. Following his military service, Patrick moved to Southern California where his younger brother, Samuel Manning and wife, Patricia, were living. In 1963 Patrick went to work for the Carrier Corporation as a draftsman and metal fabricator. It was here where he met his best friend, Ron Holcomb. Ron and Patrick would continue their longtime friendship even after Ron moved to Bakersfield with his wife, Zola and their five children. In 1965, Patrick joined a Catholic singles group called the Gabrielites and this is where he met Mary Ann Nordstrom. Mary Ann had graduated from Oregon State and was a writer and test-kitchen chef for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner newspaper’s food column. Mary Ann and Patrick met when the Gabrielites hosted a Christmas party and as he said, “Snow White walked into the room wearing a red dress!” They were married on June 19, 1965 at Saints Felicitas & Perpetua Catholic Church in San Marino, California. Following their wedding, Patrick and Mary Ann moved to an apartment in Monrovia. Patrick and Mary Ann had three children, Mary Patrice (born in 1966), Paul Patrick Jr. (born in 1968, who died shortly after birth) and Paul Matthew Manning (born in 1971). In 1965 they purchased their first home in Rowland Heights and Patrick went on to work for Gould Defense Systems as a Unit Manager for their Hybrid Manufacturing Department. He later went to work for General Dynamics as an Inspection Supervisor on the Stinger Missile Project, and was with them until 1991. Patrick’s education spanned several years, beginning with courses in Education at Appalachian State Teachers College in North Carolina, where he attended night school during his time in the Air Force. He later went to Los Angeles Trade Technical College before placing his education on hold to raise a family. By this time, Patrick also was involved in his community as an usher at St. Martha’s Parish where he and Mary Ann were active members for over 35 years. Patrick joined Toastmasters International where he was named “Best Tall Tale Speaker” his first year! He was very involved with his children’s activities, serving as PTA President of Jellick Elementary for three terms, Little League coach for Matthew’s T-ball “Blue Jays” team, Booster Club for Bishop Amat when Mary Patrice was in high school, Matthew’s Cub and Boy Scout troop leader for the San Gabriel Valley Council and UCLA’s parent spirit club where he organized tailgate parties for the football games. Speaking of sports, Patrick was an avid fan, and could often be found watching the Fighting Illini play basketball, the Seattle Mariners baseball game, or the infamous football showdown between UCLA & USC. Patrick and Mary Ann attended many Oregon State football games after they retired to the Pacific Northwest. In 1990, Patrick finished a lifelong goal of receiving his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Organizational Management from LaVerne University in Southern California. In 1991, Patrick and Mary Ann sold their home in Southern California and moved to the Long Beach Peninsula, just over the Oregon border, on the Pacific Coast. Patrick took a job with Active Enterprises and worked there until his retirement in 2005. The move to Washington state allowed Patrick and Mary Ann the opportunity to help Mary Ann’s parents with their beef cattle farm which was located just outside of Astoria, Oregon in the small town of Birkenfeld. Patrick spent many of his weekends helping Francis and Helen with farm work as they were now in their 80s. Farming was not new to Patrick, having helped his parents in Kentucky as a young man, and while in Los Angeles, each summer in June he would take the family to the Nordstrom farm to help with cutting and bailing hay. After moving to the Peninsula, Patrick quickly became involved in his local community by joining the Long Beach Lions Club where he served as both Vice President and President. In 1998 and 2004 he was named “Lion of the Year” for going “Above and Beyond” to help others, citing his work with underprivileged youth from the Alternative School in Long Beach, assisting the EPA with raising funds for trash cans to be placed along the beach trails of the peninsula, and making stainless steel flag stands along Main Street for the City of Long Beach. In 2004, Patrick served on the Lewis & Clark 200th Anniversary Committee, marking the expedition of the newly transferred land from France to the United States. He served on the Board of Directors for Great Northwest Federal Credit Union, PACE Food Bank Board and was on the Pacific County Flood Control Advisory Board for over 19 years. Patrick was a Member of the American Legion Post 48 in Long Beach where he served as Sergeant-At-Arms and President. In 2015 he received commendation from the National Commander, “On Behalf of a Grateful Organization, for your Dedicated Service of Still Serving America.” Patrick and Mary Ann enjoyed a great deal of traveling, especially when their son Matthew worked for MTV in Manhattan. On one trip to NYC they sailed on the Queen Mary II to Normandy, France, toured England, Wales and Scotland. They traveled to Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii and all across the US during many road trips to see their daughter, Mary Patrice, her husband, John, and their granddaughters, Katie and Beth, as they moved to various duty stations with the Army. A special trip was to Alaska to visit their goddaughter, Terry Manning, who was working for the school district in Fairbanks. Patrick was a man of deep faith. Every Sunday was Mass, and his children remember family vacations would always begin with the rosary. His next love was that of family. Patrick and Mary Ann were married for 46 years. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann (2011), his son, Paul Patrick Jr. (1968), his parents, Paul P. Manning (1969) and Mildred Manning, (2013) and his sister, Charlotte Ann Padgett (2012). He is survived by his brother Jerry Manning of Morganfield, Kentucky; Samuel Manning (Patricia) of Prescott Valley, Arizona; John Manning of Robinson, Illinois; his children, Mary Patrice Lathrop (John); Paul Matthew Manning (Melanie); his two granddaughters, Kaitlin Lathrop and Elizabeth Lathrop; and dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins, including his two goddaughters, Terry Manning of Anchorage, Alaska and Charlotte Nordstrom Robles of Pomona, California. Patrick loved apples. This was because growing up his family could not afford birthday gifts but they had a farm full of fruits and vegetables. He would get a wheelbarrow of apples for his birthday. He would often say, “My good life is the waiting room to Heaven,” and “I’m not satisfied with work that’s ‘good enough’.” Patrick loved nicknames, and if he called you “George” you were pretty special to him. He would write his granddaughters each week and sign the letters, I love you “WMBBGD” (World’s Most Brilliant and Beautiful Granddaughters). He said he kept the Serenity Prayer framed on his desk as a constant reminder of heavenly wisdom. His favorite poet was Robert Frost. Patrick was a fervent reader and owned hundreds of books. Papa Pat loved milkshakes, flying kites, and working with copper and sheet metal to create cookie cutters and beautiful roses. He will be remembered most for his sense of humor, his unconventional prayers and his positive outlook on life. The Manning Family would like to thank the Staff of Coastal Care, especially Amber Jacobs, RN, James Jacobs, Mary Davis, Cyndi Pitkin and Angie Jansma, for their extraordinary love and care towards our father. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Paul Patrick Manning can be made to the following charities: The Archdiocese for the Military Services (providing Catholic chaplains within the Armed Forces): milarch.org; The American Red Cross: redcross.org; The Markie Foundation (providing children’s hospice to terminally ill children): markiefoundation.org, or Stand Up To Cancer: standuptocancer.org.