William H. Mantooth

WILLIAM H. MANTOOTH Soldier/Marine
Colonel William H. Mantooth, U.S. Army Retired, 83, a career Army Officer and former Marine, died March 27, 2011 at home in Springfield, Virginia after a long illness due to Parkinson's Disease. He had been a resident of Northern Virginia for more than 40 years. Colonel Mantooth served in the United States Marine Corps, on active duty and in the Active Reserves from 1946 to 1950. In 1951 he was commissioned through ROTC and received an appointment in the Regular Army. Colonel Mantooth was called to serve during the Korean War and was assigned to the 63rd Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division, as a Forward Observer and Artillery Battery Executive Officer. He served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War, to include Commander of the 519th Transportation Battalion ("The Tiger Battalion"). Subsequent assignments were at Fort Eustis, Virginia and at the Pentagon. He retired from military service in 1979. His military awards include the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit. Upon completion of his military career, he was a successful real estate agent for nearly two decades with several realty companies in Northern Virginia, including Coldwell Banker Realty. Colonel Mantooth was born in Cleveland, Tennessee in 1928. He graduated from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Business Administration. Colonel Mantooth was also a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, VA. Beloved husband of Frances T. Mantooth for more than 55 years who lovingly cared for him at home in his illness during the last ten years of his life, he is also survived by one daughter (Theresa), two sons (Michael, Mark), and nine grandchildren, all of Northern Virginia.  A Funeral Mass with full military honors will be held on Tuesday, July 26 at 12:45 p.m. at the Fort Myer Post Chapel, Fort Myer, VA. Interment Arlington National Cemetery. Family request contributions be made to Catholic Charities Center for Adoption and Pregnancy Services, 5294 Lingate Court, Burke, VA 22015.