George Julian Manville, Jr.

George Julian Manville Jr. was born on October 9, 1937, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to the late George Julian Manville Sr. and the late Zena Beth Manville. He departed this life to be with our Lord on November 25, 2021, at his home in Mansfield, Missouri.

As a youth George lived in Brownsville, Texas and Conway, Arkansas where he graduated from high school and attended the Arkansas State Teachers College. He graduated with a teaching degree, and while in college, he was the captain of the track team where he ran the half-mile. While living in Arkansas, George gained a love for the outdoors and spent time with friends hunting and fishing.

Upon graduating from college, he moved to Mansfield, Missouri, where he taught mathematics and industrial arts at Mansfield High School. It was here that he met the love of his life, the former Janice Lou Short. They were joined in holy matrimony on August 9, 1961, and to this union Gwen and Craig were born.

Shortly after Gwen was born, George took his love of the outdoors to another level and began a career with the Missouri Department of Conservation. In this capacity, he worked in multiple locations throughout southern Missouri and after over 30 years completed his career as a Regional Supervisor of Missouri's Northeast Region.

George’s love of the outdoors was only surpassed by his love of flying. He earned his pilot license and finally realized his dream of building and flying his own airplane. Despite these passions, however, George’s greatest talent was woodworking. An official member of the “Best of Missouri Hands”, an organization dedicated to the recognition of Missouri’s arts and artisans, George could build virtually anything. The homes of his family members and the First Baptist Church of Mansfield are adorned with the loving results of this God given talent.

George is survived by his wife, Janice Lou Manville; two children, Gwendolyn Lawson and husband, Ward, of Marshfield, Missouri, and Craig Manville and wife, Saralynn, of Lakeland, Florida; six grandchildren, Avery Lawson, Libbie Lewis (Daniel), Liam Manville, Amon Manville, Levi Manville and Abel Manville; great-grandchild, Izryel Ballard; sisters, Janet Lemons, Beth Cook, and Laura Manville Redden; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association in care of the funeral home.