Bernard ''Sonny'' Manning, 73, Firefighter
Bernard "Sonny" Manning, 73, of Avon Lake, died Wednesday September 14, 2011 at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Lorain after a brief illness.
He was born May 29, 1938 in Newburyport, Massachusetts, grew up in Amesbury, Massachusetts and graduated from Amesbury High School in 1956. He served in the US Army from 1956-1959 and moved to the Lorain area in 1962.
Sonny was a Firefighter with the city of Lorain Fire Department retiring in 1990. Prior to that, he worked at the Ford Assembly Plant in Lorain and Freuhauf Trailer in Avon Lake.
He was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, AMVETS Post #47 and IAV Post #1, all of Lorain.
Sonny enjoyed exercising at the gym, jogging, walking, cycling, reading and playing cards. He was an avid bowler and had a 300 game to his credit. Sonny was an avid New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, Red Sox and Bruins fan. He was a very social person who loved being around people.
He is survived by his wife Judy Manning (nee Cecil) of Lorain, children Gary La Branche (Karen) of Evanston, Illinois, Mark La Branche (Polly) of Warrenton, Virginia and Allan La Branche of Lorain, grandchildren Catherine La Branche, Larissa La Branche, Russell La Branche and Paige La Branche, sisters Claire Goodrich (John) of Boynton Beach, Florida and Mary Rocco (Leo) of Newburyport, Massachusetts, nieces/nephews Peter Goodrich of Delray Beach, Florida, Beth Mulroy, Stephen Goodrich and Suellen Booth, all of Boca Raton, Florida, Kimellen Gibbons of East Kingston, New Hampshire and Jennifer Runnion of Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was preceded in death by his parents Bernard F. Manning, Jr and Helen Manning (nee Haley).
The family will receive friends Friday 4-8 pm at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave., Lorain where funeral services will be held Saturday at 12:00 pm. The Rev. Richard Hudak, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Lorain, will officiate. Burial will follow in Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst Township where the VFW Post #451 and American Legion Post #30, both of Lorain, will conduct military honors.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, 5555 Frantz Rd, Dublin, OH. 43017.
Online condolences can be made at www.gluvna.net.