Joseph (Joe) Frederick McManus

Columbia, SC - Joseph 'Joe' Frederick McManus (94), died peacefully in his home on Tues Feb 23, 2021. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church, Columbia SC, where the service will also be live streamed on the church’s Facebook page. Burial will follow at 12:00 p.m. at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery with military honors.  

Joe was born Nov 13, 1926 in Boston, Massachusetts to the late Agnes O’Neil and Peter F. McManus. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sarah ‘Jane’ McManus; daughters, Sue (David) Banks, Kathy Holland, Anne McManus, Theresa McManus; Grandchildren, Michelle Long (Jeff Cook), Chris (Wendy) Long, Triston (Kira) Mikutaitis, Thomas (Karina) Holland, Matt (Hilary) Holland, André Iglesias, Alex Iglesias, Patrick McManus, Mackenzie McManus, Lang McManus; great grandchildren Emily Long, Jaylyn Long, Colton Long, Lily Holland. He was predeceased by brothers, John and Francis McManus; sisters, Rita Patterson and Irene McManus; son, Peter J. McManus and great granddaughter Abigail Taylor Long.

After graduating from high school, Joe joined the US Coast Guard and had the honor to serve on the USS Racine during WWII. After arriving back home, Joe rejoined the Boston Globe until enrolling in the Georgetown School of Foreign Service in 1947. After graduating from Georgetown in 1951, Joe joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where he worked for 27 years. During his tenure with the CIA, Joe had a variety of assignments in North and Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, South America and at CIA headquarters in the Washington DC area. During one of Joe’s assignments he was appointed as Chief of Station. Joe was among a group of employees who received the award of Meritorious Unit Citation.

After retiring from the CIA in 1978, Joe and Jane moved to Columbia, SC where Joe began his 2nd career with the SC Dept. of Corrections, retiring in 1992. Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Toastmasters, and one of the founders of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He also served as a Juvenile Arbitrator for 12 years. Joe founded the ‘Self Help for Stutterers’, after a lifelong struggle with stuttering. Joe and Jane have been members of Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church since moving to Columbia.

Joe loved to travel, was an avid boater and enjoyed sailing. In the late 1970’s, Joe and several family members sailed from Trinidad and Tobago to the Grenadines. Joe led an adventurous life and has been blessed with a wonderful family and amazing group of friends and acquaintances.

A special thanks to Joe’s companion, Sonne, who spent many hours visiting with Joe when leaving the house became challenging for him.  The family would also like to thank Sheppard’s Helping Hands of Batesburg, for their wonderful care of Mr. 'Joe' since May 2018. In particular, Katherine, Angela, Ashley, Julia, Jennifer and Kayla who all became like members of the family and we love you all. You took such great care of Mr. 'Joe' and enriched the last years of his life. We are forever grateful.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in the name of Joseph McManus can be made to ‘Homes for our Troops’, 6 Main St, Tauton, MA 02780 or https://www.hfotusa.org/.

Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lexington Chapel is assisting the family.

Live stream/video link: https://www.facebook.com/OurLadyOfTheHillsSC/

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