KILMARNOCK—Matthew Bradley Manson, 43, was born August 5, 1975, in Atlanta, Ga., and peacefully returned to the Lord on March 4, 2019.
Matt was the son of Richard and Jo Manson of Kilmarnock. He is also survived by his brother, Chris Manson, and his wife, Vanessa, and nephew Connor Joseph Manson, 11, and niece Julianna Rose Manson, 9, all of Randolph, N.J.
He was raised in Virginia and after high school joined the U.S. Navy in January 1998. In many ways he was following in the footsteps of his grandfather, retired LCDR Joseph Wall, a career Naval officer who served in the Far East also. Matt became an avionics technician and rose to the level of E6.
Over the next 18 years, Matt literally traveled around the world as an avionic tech working on Hawkeye Aircraft. Fifteen years of Matt’s 18-year career were spent at sea and he saw the world from Dubai, Thailand, Australia, Chili, Brazil, Turkey, Portugal to France, just to name a few ports of call.
Matt was a highly decorated veteran receiving the following awards, medals, ribbons, commendations and insignias: 4 Navy & Marine Corps Achieve Medals, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy “E” Ribbon, 4 Navy Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, 2 Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbons, 4 Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, Flag Letter of Commendation, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, Navy Pistol Shot Marksmanship Ribbon Meritorious Unit Commendation and Aviation Warfare Specialist Breast Insignia
The Secretary of the Navy directed 100% retirement with disability effective November 28, 2016. Matt then moved to Kilmarnock to be close to his family.
In 2018, Matt became a 3rd degree Master Mason in the Lancaster Union Lodge #88 Ancient and Free and Accepted Masons Masonic Lodge in Kilmarnock.
A memorial service was conducted at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at Kilmarnock United Methodist Church, 89 East Church Street, Kilmarnock. A reception followed the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 975, White Stone, VA 22578.
Currie Funeral Home, LLC, of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
