Thomas Arthur (Art) Manning III, 60, of Gloucester, Va., passed away Oct. 8, 2015 at home surrounded by family.
He was born Oct. 2, 1955 in Beaumont, Texas, to the late Dr. Thomas A. Manning Jr. of Beaumont, and Anna Goad Manning of Bennington, Okla. Art was raised in Baton Rouge, La. and Menlo Park, Cal.; and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Baton Rouge in 1973. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from LSU in 1979.
Art moved to Newport News, Va., in 1987 to work for Talbot and Assoc., where he met his best friend and love of his life, Lynne Bohon. They married in 1991, and made their home in Raleigh, N.C., for 23 years. Art worked as a Consulting Engineer and General Contractor for JW Grand, Inc., for many years before starting his own consulting engineering firm, Manning DECM. He was a licensed engineer in Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama and South Carolina. Art and Lynne’s careers flourished in North Carolina and they enjoyed the friendship of many in the business community. In July 2013, Art and Lynne relocated to Gloucester to be closer to family.
Art could find humor in most anything and never knew a stranger. His wit was sharp and his stories entertaining. Although Art made his career as a civil/structural engineer, he excelled as a chemist, geographer, history buff, award-winning marksman, mariner, builder, conservationist, outdoorsman, chef, writer, gun aficionado, horticulturist and collector. He was also a devoted and loving husband, son, brother-in-law, uncle, and “consummate friend to his hunting buddies.” He enriched the lives of all he met.
Art is survived by his wife of 25 years, Lynne Bohon Manning of Gloucester; his mother, Anna Goad Manning of Gloucester; his brother, Mark Manning and Mark’s wife Terri of Collierville, Tenn., and their four children, Dennis, Patrick, Martha and Carolyn. Additional survivors include his children from a previous marriage: daughters, Allison Manning and Diane Manning of Baton Rouge, Kristy Manning of Detroit, his son, Michael Manning of Tulsa, and six grandchildren. He is also survived by his in-laws, Bo and Pat Bohon and Rob Atkinson; nephews, Heath Allen, Hollis Allen and Reed Atkinson; niece, Ava Atkinson, and his sisters-in-law to whom he was especially devoted, Alisa Bohon and Leslie Bohon-Atkinson, all of Gloucester.
A memorial service conducted by the Rev. Sven vanBaars will be held on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. at Abingdon Episcopal Church, 4645 George Washington Memorial Highway, Gloucester. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
Memorials may be made in Art’s name to the “Arts at Abingdon” music program, Abingdon Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 82, White Marsh, Va. 23183.
Arrangements are by Hogg Funeral Home and Crematory, Gloucester Point. Family and friends may share condolences and memories at www.hoggfh.com.