Tony Manning, 87, of Fernandina Beach, FL, formerly of Petersburg, IL, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family at 3:28 a.m. on June 29, 2025, at the Community Hospice & Palliative Care Center in Fernandina Beach, FL.

He was born in Shelbyville, IL, to the late Reta P. Manning. They moved to Springfield, IL in 1946. Tony graduated from Lanphier High School in 1956 and attended Brown’s Business College while working for American Ambulance Company. It was while he was driving for American Ambulance that he met the love of his life, Gayle Ann Clapp, also of Springfield, who worked in the admitting department at St. John’s Hospital. They were married at the First Christian Church in Springfield, IL, on September 5, 1959.

After receiving his degree from Brown’s Business College, Tony began working as an accountant for State Life of Illinois which was purchased by Franklin Life Insurance Company in 1967. In 1972 he left Franklin Life and took a job with the Illinois Department of Mental Health as an accountant. He retired from that agency in 2000 as a senior administrator.

Between his Junior and Senior year of high school, Tony enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard and served for 20 years. He was Tank Commander in Alpha Co. 106th Tank Battalion and retired as a Master Sergeant in the 1144th Transportation Battalion. During his service in the ING, he was an instructor at the OCS Academy and a member of the Governor’s All-Guard Long-Range Rifle team.

Tony had many passions and hobbies including farming, hunting, fishing, golfing, fast and slow-pitch softball, shooting, wood working, reading and gardening. He was a life-long St. Louis Cardinal fan and had season tickets for over 30 years.

In 2017 Gayle and Tony participated in their first archaeological dig at
James Madison’s Montpelier in Orange, VA. This became their “happy place” where they helped dig up the past and relax in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Over a seven-year period they participated in 16 archaeological expeditions together.

Of all his accomplishments Tony was most proud of his family that survives him. Wife, Gayle of Fernandina Beach, FL; daughters, Kim Perez, husband Gary Maley of Petersburg, IL, Stacey Manning, partner John Singler, of Fernandina Beach, FL, Patty (Kirk) Wiedman also of Fernandina Beach, FL; son Tim Manning; grandchildren, Dillon Sizemore of Ponte Vedra, FL, Greta (Jeremy) Mueller of Springfield, IL, Abby (Nicholas) Sala of Fernandina Beach, FL, and Austin Sizemore, (fiancé MacKenzie Flenniken) of Tampa, FL.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 12, 2025 at Memorial United Methodist Church begining at 2:00 PM. Cremation Rites have been accorded through Oxley-Heard Funeral Home in Fernandina Beach, Fl. Interment will be at Camp Butler National Cemetery with full military honors at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the new “Community Archaeology Lab at Montpelier” in Tony’s honor. Donations may be mailed to: C.A.L.M., P.O. Box 911, Orange, VA 22960

Online donations can be made via the following link:

https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form/?svcid=tcs&formId=6a602ef5-a0a3-4b2c-a0b4-9029347e2937&envid=p-ySzML0QarEi4oGbgxxLwvg&zone=usa

Please type "In Memory of Tony Manning" in the comment box on the form.