Charles R. Manning

Charles Reed Manning December 13, 1949 – September 13, 2025 Charlie R. Manning, a retired IUEC Local 4 elevator mechanic, passed away on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at his home with his family close by. He was born in Charleston, SC as a military brat and finished high school in Melrose, MA where he met his wife Beverly of 55 years. They were married very young over objections from both of their parents. His father unsuccessfully bribed him with a Camaro to not marry. August of 1969, the year of his marriage, he led a trip with Bev, his best man, and his fiancee to the Woodstock Festival. What a lot of memories. Charlie and Bev worked for nine years before having their daughter Adrienne. Having renovated a home in Plaistow, NH they moved to a bigger place in Brentwood, NH. The home took a lot of years to renovate and their son David was born there. He was a trailer driver for Exxon at that time hauling gasoline and jet fuel to the airport. Being a jack of all trades, Charlie used his skills to subdivide their 24 acres, build a road, and eventually build the home the family lived in for years on Diane McCain Drive. He retired at 55 after taking care of the elevators at the John Hancock building, Charles River Park in Boston, and the Cross Point Towers in Lowell along with Umass Lowell. He worked for both Delta Elevator and Stanley Elevator. Charlie made many lifetime friends through the elevator brotherhood and was proud that his son David is now an elevator mechanic. Charlie had a passion for motorcycles. Before kids, he and his Garoup friends raced amazing bikes through AAMRR at Briar Motorsport Park. They manufactured cylinders to make the Honda 750 go faster through GORT Engineering, a company of four like minded friends. After retiring, he toured the U.S. for months, coming home only to switch motorcycles. Each day he found a hotel with internet so that he could send pictures to everyone that was on his email string. Upon his return, the work began on a house they would grow old in, along with one of the largest garages you will ever see. Built with red iron and steel studs, their new neighbors thought it was going to be a CVS. It was all done with the help of his son David and a few friends. For more years than one can count, friends have been coming to the garage in Kingston to chat about motorcycles, cars, politics, and families. Anyone was welcome on Wednesday nights and this will continue. Seeing his friends so often kept them all close and that was so important to him. Besides his wife, Charlie is survived by his daughter Adrienne Manning of Brentwood NH, his son David Manning and his wife Nicole of Lexington MA, his brother William Manning and his wife Mallory of North Carolina, his aunt Nancy Bride and her husband John and their family from South Carolina who have been a part of his life since he was small. Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 from 5pm – 8pm at the Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025 in Greenwood Cemetery in Kingston. Memorial Donation