Obituary of William Franklin Manley

William "Bill" Franklin Manley, age 76, of Harbeson, DE passed away surrounded by his loved ones on June 16, 2024. Born to William L. and Betty L. Roberts Manley in Chester, PA. Bill was raised in Claymont, DE, and has lived in Harbeson, DE for the last 20 years. He previously resided in Elkton and Perryville, MD. He studied computer programming at the Institute of Computer Management and Sciences in 1967. He was a member of the DuPont Masonic Lodge. Bill was a gun enthusiast and had a huge interest in classic cars and motorcycles. He enjoyed woodworking but his true love was spending time with his grandkids and being on the water on his pontoon boat.

Bill was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1968 and fought bravely in Vietnam. He was a member of the 51st Infantry Platoon as a (Scout Dog Handler) 197 Infantry Brigade. Bill was awarded a Bronze Star. He started working the VA after his honorable discharge and worked there for a total of 37 years, retiring as Network 5 Medical Care Cost Recovery Coordinator. After his retirement, he and Joanne moved to Sussex County where he continued his passion of being a Poppop.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Joanne Thompson Manley, children, Bill (Kristie) Manley, Aliceyn (Chuck) McCarthy, and Andrew Schaen, grandchildren, Skylar, Andrew Jr., Emma, Payton, Nickolas, Addyson, and Savannah, and his sister, Debi (Bo) Kelley.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 27 from 12:30 – 1:45pm at Pagano Funeral Home, 3711 Foulk Rd, Garnet Valley, PA followed by a Masonic Service at 1:45pm, then a funeral service at 2:00pm. Interment, Chester Bethel Cemetery, Wilmington, DE. Donations in Bill's name may be made to either Tunnels to Towers (t2t.org) or St. Jude Children's Research (stjude.org). Online condolences may be made by visiting www.paganofuneralhome.com.