Robert "Bob" Townsend-Manning

Robert (Bob) Townsend-Manning, LCDR, USN (Ret) Robert Townsend-Manning was born and raised in California under the name Robert Lee Manning, Jr. He spent his teenage years working hard and playing hard on Bethel Island. He enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting, swimming and competitive water skiing with his friends. After a short summer as a commercial fisherman, he joined the U.S. Navy and the submarine service and served for 30 years during the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf War. In 1981 he was commissioned as a Limited Duty Officer and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Bob specialized in submarine electronics repair and maintenance. He had high standards, was disciplined and efficient. He was a great leader and manager. His advice regarding goal setting was "If you aim at nothing, you will surely hit it." He lived by the seven P's - Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance. And he balanced work and play: "If you can't get your work done in 8 hours a day, you are doing something wrong." Bob loved his playtime and collected many hobbies during his life, many lasting throughout his life. He loved to read science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy and thrillers. He loved to do research about a new hobby, and he loved to shop for the best gear. His hobbies during his naval career included photography, hiking, backpacking, square dancing, motorcycle riding, cycling, touring National Parks, woodworking, playing the guitar, round dancing (choreographed ballroom dance), weight training, running, triathlons, homebrewing, and computer games. After his retirement from the Navy, he added snorkeling, scuba diving, golf, gourmet cooking and yoga. In 2000 he traded his backpack and tent for an Airstream trailer and started attending dance weekends. At the time of his death Bob was still reading, playing computer games, weight training, doing yoga, square dancing and round dancing, and traveling in his trailer to dance weekends and conventions. Bob graduated from his first ballroom class in 1963 and found round dancing in 1992. Upon moving to southern Utah in 2007 Bob and Mary became the local round dance instructors and eventually earned an international reputation for choreography and teaching round dance. Bob and Mary traveled around the country in their Airstream trailer attending and working at many square and round dance conventions and festivals. Bob’s proudest moments include competing in slalom water skiing in his teens, swimming in the Junior Olympics in the Navy, serving on submarines during the cold war, being selected as a Limited Duty Officer, earning his Electrical Engineering degree in his 30s, running triathlons in his 40s, retiring from the Navy, and winning many gold medals at the Huntsman Senior Games in square dancing. Bob was friendly and positive and a great conversationalist. He was funny and enjoyed gentle teasing and joking around. He was curious and always learning. He loved new technology. He was strong and graceful and a fantastic dancer. He was a devoted and affectionate husband and a loving father. Bob loved his wife, his children, his extended family, and his cat of 18 years, Teddy. Bob is survived by his wife Mary Townsend-Manning; his ex-wife Karen Gates; his son James Manning and his sons, Jacob, Devin, Levi and Grayson; his daughter and son-in-law Tracey and Gary Ritchey and their sons Daniel and Matthew Miles and their families; and by his stepsons Brian and Dick Osborne and their families. There will be a private remembrance open house for friends and family at the Townsend-Manning home in Washington, Utah on Tuesday August 4th from 6 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Wikimedia Foundation in Bob’s name.

Robert "Bob" Townsend-Manning

November 19, 1949 - July 15, 2026