Rumsonite and Sea Bright resident and veteran law enforcement officer Donald V. Manning passed away on Sept. 20 after a long illness, according to his obituary from Thompson Memorial Home.

Born in Jersey City, after serving in the U.S. Navy and working for the Dock Builders and Carpenters Union Local #1456, Donald joined the Eatontown Police Department, his obituary said.  After spending five years there, he went to work at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, where he retired as a lieutenant after 26 years, it added.

“Donald loved his job and won many awards and accommodations as well as the respect of his Brother in Blue,” his obituary said. “He would stand by anyone who wore the badge. Two very proud moments in his life were to see his son Thomas and his daughter Teresa also wear the Sea Bright Police uniform side by side. He would come home beaming with pride. He was an avid fitness buff into his 80s. He will be missed by his faithful companion Jensen, his Jack Russell. A special appreciation to the hospice nurses.”

Donald was predeceased by: his two sons Terrance and Thomas Manning; his mother, Cecil Manning; and brother, Andrew Manning.

He is survived by: his wife, Kathleen Patchell Manning; his son, Donald V. Manning, Jr. and wife, Kim, of Long Branch; two daughters, Patricia Caplan and husband Randy, of MA, and Teresa Herschenfeld and husband Greg, of Red Bank; daughter-in-law Heidi Manning, of Fair Haven; thirteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

He is also survived by his three stepchildren: Joan Stringfellow of TX, Christian Slocum and Lori, of Atlantic Highlands, Allison DeFrancesco, of Atlantic Highlands, and their children.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank, on Friday, Sept. 23 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.. A service will be held at 8:30 p.m. during the gathering hours.

The family requests that memorial donations be made in Donald’s memory to Hackensack—Meridian Hospice, Meridian Health Foundation, 1345 Campus Pkwy., Suite A2, Neptune, NJ 07753.