Barbara K. Manning

Barbara Manning was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1952. In 1955, she was adopted by her parents, Mary Theodora (Lucas) Colie and Ray Wade Colie, Jr., whom she loved dearly. Barbara loved to remember important dates in her life, marking the passing of time. Some of her favorites were January 15th, 1967, when she'd tell you she watched the first Super Bowl game, (Go Browns!) or August 15th, 1969, when she made one epic road trip to Woodstock Music Festival with friends. 

Raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Barbara enjoyed a happy childhood before moving to Cincinnati in 1969, where she graduated from Archbishop McNicholas High School in 1970. In 1975, she married and became a mother, ultimately having seven children. She loved to rattle off each of their birth dates, frequently playing those numbers in the Ohio Lottery. An avid consumer of pour-over coffee and roll-up cannabis, Barbara loved the slow moments in life, crocheting beautiful blankets and shawls, caring for her beloved cat, Tuffy, and faithfully watching her favorite soaps. 

Barbara is survived by her husband, John Manning; sister-in-law, Sandra (Dennis) Collier and her children: Matthew (Nikki) Ulrich, Kevin Watson, Rosemary (Nicholas) Watson, Travis (Sea) Watson, Daryll Watson, Ashley (Jason) Wilson, and Jake (Megan) Manning. To her many grandchildren, she was "Gma" and she will be greatly missed. 

A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at GTOC, 31 N. 1st Street, Fairborn, OH 45324. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Humane Society of Preble County.