WARREN MANNING

SIKESTON -- Warren Ramsay Manning, 70, died at 7 p.m. April 1, 2000, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis.

Born April 14, 1929, in St. Louis, son of the late George Warren and Elise Gessler Manning, he earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, where he majored in biology. He was a member of Hunter Memorial First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon, elder and Sunday School superintendent.

He was employed by Scott County Health Department 45 years, where he was administrator for the past 26 years. Manning served with the U.S. Naval Reserve more than 40 years, retiring as a petty officer.

As administrator of the health department, he was instrumental in planning and organizing the Family Planning Program and Infant Mortality Project for Scott County as well as the Cancer Coalition Project.

Under his direction, the Scott County Health Department has served as a model program for the state of Missouri. They were the first to provide services with two offices and to offer an extended hours program.

Manning helped organize and served as a board member of the SEMO Health Network and organized and was a charter board member of the Visiting Nurse Association. He also organized a Health Educator Program for Scott County, which was the first in Missouri.

Manning planned and organized the 50th anniversary of the Scott County Health Department, which is set for Friday at the health department.

In 1965 he drove to Jefferson City to get the polio vaccine when it first became available to the public. In conjunction with the Sikeston Jaycees, of which he had been a member, he organized polio clinics in Scott County, which were among the first in the state.

On June 7, 1957, in Kennett, he married Marcia Marie Smith, who survives of the home.

Other survivors include one son, Warren Ramsay Manning Jr. of Springfield; two daughters, Michele Whittington of Lexington, Ky., Melissa Kuhnmuench of St. Louis; one brother, Robert W. Manning of Denton, Texas; two grandchildren, Elise Marie Kuhnmuench and Jacob Alexander Kuhnmuench of St. Louis.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Blanchard Funeral Chapel.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hunter Memorial First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Rufus McClean, pastor, and the Rev. Ted A. Smith Jr. of Decatur, Ga., will officiate. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Warren R. Manning Memorial Fund, c/o Scott County Health Department, P.O. Box 70, Benton, Mo., 63736.