John A. Manley

John A. Manley, 88

NEW LONDON, N.H. - John A. Manley, 88, of The Seasons, died Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

He was born in Bronx, N.Y., on Dec. 24, 1916, the son of Andrew TenEyck and Rosetta (Boyer) Manley. He was raised in Bethlehem, Pa., attended public schools and Lehigh University. Mr. Manley was graduated from Lehigh in 1938 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a 2nd Lt. Infantry.

His industrial career, started at E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. in 1939, was interrupted by World War II in 1942. He served in the South Pacific and finished his service in 1946 being discharged as a Major, Infantry with a Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge.

Having married Ruth Leilah Naylor, daughter of Helen and Gordon Naylor, a deceased DuPont executive, in 1944, he resumed his industrial career in sales and marketing with DuPont and later in executive positions with Nalco Chemical Co., Englehard Minerals & Chemicals Corp. and Anglo American Clays, a subsidiary of English China Clay.

Satisfying a lifelong interest in politics, upon retiring, he ran for Town Council of Mendham, N.J., and was elected serving one term.

He was also active in the governance of the condominium in which he lived. During this time, he and his wife became interested in genealogy and traveled widely in a vain attempt to trace the Manley family to its European origins. They were successful, however, in locating ancestors of the Manley and Naylor families in England. In 1986 the family moved to New Hampshire to be near some of their children who had settled there. While there, John became interested in local politics, served on the Board of his condominium, served on the Selectmen's Advisory Committee, was active in the reconstruction of Our Lady of Fatima Church in New London and served on the Parish Council.

In 1997, Ruth Naylor Manley died after 53 years of a truly devoted marriage.

In 2001, John married a friend and widow of a friend, Henrietta Wheeler. They spent their time in retirement between a condominium in New London, N.H., a condo in Cape Elizabeth, and an apartment in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., during the cold months.

He is survived by his wife, Henrietta; five children, Kathleen Bigford, Andrew, David, Thomas, and Patricia Manley; six grandchildren; a stepdaughter, and two stepgrandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 11, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 724 Main St., New London, N.H. Burial will be in West Part Cemetery, New London, N.H.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to:

Norris Cotton Cancer Center

One Medical Center Drive

Lebanon, N.H. 03756

Chadwick Funeral Service of New London, N.H., is in charge of arrangements.