Franklin Irving Manchester

Franklin Irving Manchester, 89, passed away on Saturday, November 6th, 2021, at Elderwood at Burlington after an extended stay in Berlin Health & Rehab.

Frank was born on August 18th, 1932, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Franklin and Gladys Manchester.  He was a veteran of the Korean war from Sept. 1952 through Sept. 1954. He was in the 2nd Infantry Division at a place called Outpost Harry.  After the war he returned to Rhode Island where he married his first wife Janet Parker. He later married Patricia (Smith) Manchester on December 16th, 1966, until her passing on September 24th, 2010. He worked for the Teamsters driving trucks and started his own paving business called M&M Asphalt. He moved to Lenox, MA in 1976 where he continued to do truck driving and paving work.  In 1979 he moved to Westford, Vermont where he sold asphalt all over the state for Allstate Asphalt.  In later years he worked out west as a skilled asphalt spray operator spraying rubberized asphalt. Some fun facts about Frank: He spayed the Compass Rose at Edwards Air Force Base (it can be seen from space), and he spent the day with Tom Selleck riding around Tom's ranch before he sprayed the roads in his Avocado groves.  Frank was an avid reader and history buff, and he loved trivia.  He knew all the roads in New England by memory and seemed to remember every road he had ever driven on.  He made friends wherever he went.

Frank was pre-deceased in death by his parents, his sister Joan, his brother Wayne, his wife Patricia, his son David, and former spouse Janet.

He is survived by his brother Ray, his children Stephen, Scott, and Karen Gresham(married to William), who were the children of Janet, and Steven (married to Laura), Todd (married to Lisa), Daniel (married to Melanie), Seth (engaged to Kiley), who were children of Patricia, 21 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.

Frank will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Frank’s memorial service will be held at Trinity Assemblies of God (627 VT 15 West, Hyde Park, VT) on Saturday, November 13th at 10:30 am with a small lunch reception to follow.  Then a burial service will take place at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery (487 Furnace Rd., Randolph Center, VT) on Wednesday, November 17th at 1:00 pm.  All are welcome.  

On behalf of our entire family, we would like to extend our deepest appreciation to desGroseilliers Funeral Home, the VA Medical Center in White River, Lamoille Valley Home Health, Berlin Health & Rehab, Elderwood in Burlington, and Bayada Hospice for the love and care they provided Frank.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Franklin Irving Manchester, please visit our floral store.