Robert Eugene MANNING

Robert Eugene "Gene" Manning, 86, passed away on January 10, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. He was born on March 28, 1933 in Miami, Florida to Alton and Essie May Manning.
Gene grew up in Jacksonville, Florida where he graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1952. After high school, he married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth "Libby" Brannan in 1953. Gene joined the Air Force where he earned his Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration at University of Nebraska. He was in the Air Force for 22 years and was stationed in Texas, Alabama, Okinawa, Washington, Montana, Vietnam, Delaware, and South Carolina, then retired in Fernandina Beach, Florida with his wife and children. While serving in the Vietnam War, he received the Bronze Star Medal for acts of bravery as well as other honors and awards throughout his distinguished military career. After retirement from the Air Force, he worked at Manning Electric in Jacksonville, Florida.
After retirement from Manning Electric, Gene and his wife Libby settled down in New Smyrna Beach, Florida where they enjoyed boating and fishing on their boat The Dreamer. Gene enjoyed golfing, tennis and water skiing. His favorite pastime was to watch all kinds of sports, especially Gator's football.
He is survived by his loving wife Libby who recently moved to Oviedo, Florida; his children Cynthia (Kevin) Searcy of Jacksonville; Sharon Manning of Lake Mary; Debra (Jack) Hoffman of Winter Springs; and Robert Eugene (Jennifer) Manning Jr of Oviedo; and sister Patricia Davis of Tallahassee, Florida. Gene was known as Papa to his grandchildren Tiffany Grogan, Weston (Ashlee) Hutt, Chris (Kelsey) Searcy, Lauren Hutt, Julia Hoffman, Ethan Manning, Jaclyn Hoffman, Brady Manning, Caden Manning and great-grandchildren Reagan Barrett and Wyatt Hutt.
Gene was preceded in death by his mother and father Alton and Essie May Manning; brothers Alton Manning Jr.; James Manning; granddaughter Stephanie Searcy; and brother-in-law John Davis.
A military funeral service will be held for Gene at 2:30 PM, February 7 at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, Florida. A reception to celebrate Gene's life will be held after the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to "Homes for Our Troops". https://www.hfotusa.org/