Rudolph Remo "Ray" (Magnoni) Manuel

Born April 22, 1918, in College Place, Ray Manuel passed away peacefully in Walla Walla Jan. 23, at the age of 100. Born Rudolph Remo Magnoni, Ray was a husband and father devoted to his wife, family and Catholic faith.

Ray was a lifelong learner but dropped out of Walla Walla High School during the depression to work on local farms. In 1939, he found permanent employment and the love of his life, Noella Lacombe, in Yakima. He enlisted in the Army on April 23, 1941. Ray and Noella were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Yakima on Sept. 25, 1942. He was deployed to Europe in October 1944 where he proudly served his country in France and Germany, eventually attaining the rank of staff sergeant. Among numerous medals and citations, Ray was awarded the Bronze Star before being discharged honorably in September of 1945.

Upon his return to civilian life, Ray and Noella raised their four children in Yakima. Ray was a career Post Office employee, serving as a clerk and supervisor in multiple departments of the Yakima Post Office. He retired as Director of Mail Processing at the Tri-Cities Mail Center in Pasco.

A devoted lifelong Catholic, Ray worked tirelessly as a volunteer in the St. Vincent de Paul Society over a period of six decades, first in Yakima at the St. Joseph Conference and later at the St. Patrick Conference in Pasco. He was deeply committed to serving others, especially the poor, and was instrumental in establishing and expanding the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s food bank in Pasco.

After 56 years of marriage, Noella preceded Ray in death Dec. 15, 1998. He is survived by his sister, Genida Purcell; his children, Wayne (wife Betty), Deanna, Rebecca, Greg (wife Ann); his four grandchildren, Jonah Magnoni, Justine Garver (husband Ken), Adam Magnoni, Kirk Magnoni (wife Rachel); and five greatgrandchildren, Grace Garver, Jack Garver, Santino Magnoni, Jonah Magnoni and Bebe Magnoni.

Viewing and visitation will be held Thursday, February 7, 2019, at 4 p.m. until the Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6 p.m. at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. A funeral service is planned for Friday, February 8, 2019, at 11 a.m. in St. Francis Catholic Church, 722 W. Alder, Walla Walla.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society or St. Patrick Conference, through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.