NAL/PAA/DAL Flight Engineer Ralph Manley

 

…..from the National Airlines Buccaneers site :

RALPH ALLEN MANLEY

-IN MEMORY-

NAL/PAA/DAL Flight Engineer Ralph Manley

DOB 10/21/1940   DOH 1/18/68   DOD 1/19/2022

US Air Force Veteran

 

 

 https://mullinsmemorial.com/obituaries/ralph-allen-manley/

 

Ralph Allen Manley, 81, passed away January 19, 2022, with complications after heart surgery in Ft Myers, FL, his wife, Lynne by his side.  Formerly of Mandeville, LA, and Mobile, AL, Ralph had been a resident of Cape Coral, FL, since 1996.

 

He was born on October 21, 1940, in Butler, AL, to George Allen Manley and Neva Rhodes Manley, both now deceased.  He was also preceded in death by his sister, Eunice Christine Parsons, and his two children, Cynthia Ann Manley and Ralph Allen Manley, Jr.  Ralph is survived by Lynne, his loving wife of 31 years, granddaughter Barbara Lutz, great grandson Asher Lutz, brothers George Allen Manley (Vonda, deceased) of Mobile, AL, and Jimmy Phillips (Dian) of Daphne, AL, and many nieces and nephews.

 

Ralph served his country for eight years in the Air Force.  His stations included Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, NM, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, McCoy Air Force Base in Orlando, FL, and Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.

 

He began his airline career as a mechanic for National Air Lines in Miami, FL, and transitioned to Flight Engineer.  His airline career continued with Pan American World Airways, based in New York, NY, and later in Berlin, Germany.  Ralph joined Delta Air Lines based in Atlanta, GA, and retired after surviving stomach cancer in 2000.

 

During retirement, Ralph and Lynne traveled the world together flying, RVing and sailing aboard their sailboat, Mañana, from their homeport in Cape Coral, FL.  Ralph was an avid boater who loved fishing, diving, snorkeling, photography and music.  He enjoyed spending many evenings playing guitar with friends.  One of his favorite projects during retirement was reconnecting with Air Force buddies to build an airplane.   On a smaller scale he loved working in metal, wood and stone.

 

Ralph was a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather and will be missed always.  We will cherish the fond memories we have of his wit, helpfulness, kindness and loving spirit, they will live in our hearts forever.  Rest peacefully, you are whole again.  Sail west with fair winds on a following sea until we can be together again.