Dr. Thomas Arthur (Tom) Manning Jr., born Nov. 20, 1931 in Beaumont, Texas, died Oct. 12, 2014 in Gloucester, Va.

Tom was the only child of Thomas A. Manning Sr. and Jimmie Tucker Manning, who were lifelong residents of Beaumont, Texas, and preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Anna Goad Manning of Gloucester; two sons, Thomas A. (Art) Manning III and his wife Lynne Bohon Manning of Gloucester, and Dennis Mark Manning and his wife Terri Upp Manning of Collierville, Tenn.; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Tom’s career was in college education. He held a B.S. degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, an M.S. from LSU in Baton Rouge, and a Ph.D. from Stanford University in California. Tom was a Navy Seabee on Guam during the Korean War. Upon his return, after marrying Ann and completing his B.S. degree, he was employed by LSU as a teaching assistant while completing his master’s degree. He eventually retired from LSU as an Associate Professor in Civil Engineering. During his tenure at LSU, he spent three years at Stanford University earning his Ph.D., and one summer at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., working with NASA on the Apollo space program.

He and Ann enjoyed the friendship of his fellow professors and their wives at many functions in Baton Rouge and at his fishing camp on Grand Isle, La. After retirement he moved to Kerrville, Texas, the “Hill Country” he had enjoyed visiting as a child where he and Ann lived until 2009. They then moved Garner, N.C., and most recently in July of 2013 to Gloucester.

Tom could find humor in most anything and never knew a stranger. He enriched the lives of all he met and was a favorite professor of his students.

His family thanks the staff, nurses and doctors of the Sanders Assisted Living facility and Riverside Walter Reed Hospital for the excellent and attentive care he received.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21 at First Presbyterian Church, Gloucester.