Obituary of Robert E. Manning

Robert E. Manning, 89, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 in The Atrium at The Village at Penn State. He was born in North Adams, Massachusetts on May 23, 1927, son of the late Kenneth V. and Sarah Briggs Manning. He was married on Dec. 21, 1947 to his college sweetheart and fellow French horn player, Marjorie Rex, who preceded him in death. He was a member of the State College Presbyterian Church. Bob was a 1944 graduate of the State College Area High School and a 1948 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He earned his PhD degree from Penn State in 1954 and spent his entire career at the Cannon Instrument Company, in Boalsburg and later State College, PA. An internationally known expert in the field of viscosity, he held several patents with his mentor, Dr. Michael R. Cannon and colleague, Dr. Wallis A. Lloyd. Bob was a 50+ year member of the American Society for Testing Materials International and was elected a Fellow in 1988. He was a recipient of the Alumni Fellow Award at Penn State in 2006. In addition to science, Bob enjoyed a life-long passion for music. Bob played horn in the Penn State Blue Band as a high school senior, as well as during his years as a student at the university. He served in the US Navy for 14 months toward the end of WWII and took Basic Training at the USNTC in Great Lakes, IL where he played in the 25th and 27th Regiments Recruit Band. Over the years, Bob played horn in the Johnstown Symphony, the Altoona Symphony, the Nittany Valley Symphony, the Little German Band, and the State College Municipal Band where he was active on the board and as librarian for many years. He also played with the Repasz Band in Williamsport. He is survived by his four children: Barbara Culp and husband Sandy of Madison, Ohio, James Manning and wife Sandra of Ester, Alaska, Marilyn Lutz and husband Earlin of West Chester, Pa, and Richard Manning and wife Cathy of State College, Pa.; eleven grandchildren: Scott Culp and wife Betsy, Meredith Blankenship, Kirsten Manning and husband Asa Dowdy, Sarah Kubier, Melanie Lutz, David Lutz, Nathan Lutz, Doug Manning, and Chad Manning and wife Nora; step-granddaughters Emily and Abigail DeWolfe; and one great-grandson, Brody Robert Blankenship. He is also survived by his sister, Virginia Warren and husband J. Fred, of Middleburg, VA; his sisters-in-law: Elizabeth Everhart of Denver, PA and Martha Baldwin of Tucson, AZ, as well as many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be at 3 p.m., on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at the State College Presbyterian Church, 132 W Beaver Ave, State College. Memorial contributions may be made to the Robert and Marjorie Manning Fund at the Centre County Community Foundation, PO Box 648, State College 16804 or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences may be made at www.kochfuneralhome.com.