Manuel Menor Paris

Manuel was born on August 12, 1946, to Proceso and Simeona Paris in the Pangasinan province of the Philippines.

He began his U.S. Naval career in March of 1965 and completed his basic training at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California. Upon graduation he received his orders to the USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 where he was assigned until 1969. He shipped over after four years and received orders to the Kingsville Naval Air Station in Texas. Upon checkout he participated in the Zumwalt program and trained as a Storekeeper. He was promoted in 1971 as SK3 Petty Officer Third Class. While in Kingsville, he received his orders to Saigon in Vietnam and served there for three years until being transferred to the USS Juneau LPD-10. After a year, he reported to the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, California. There he was assigned as Mess Deck Master-at-Arms and then to the Operational Repair Facility. After his shore duty, he was assigned to the USS Duluth LPD-6 where he spent three years and was promoted to Storekeeper Chief in 1977. His last ship was the USS McClusky FFG-41 where he retired in 1985. He received a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, two Navy Unit Commendation Medals, and four good conduct medals. After his naval career, Manuel spent 18 years working at the Space and Naval Warfare Center in San Diego, California where he retired at the age of 58.

Manuel married his love of his life Delia Gonzales in 1974. The two resided in San Diego, California and were active in the Calasiao Association of San Diego, California where he served as a past President. They had three children together and enjoyed entertaining and attending social events with family and friends. They operated the Paris Board and Care in Spring Valley, California where they provided assisted living and proper care to many patients for over 20 years.

Manuel was known for his heart of gold and had a very kind and giving nature. Although he left his hometown in the Philippines to join the navy, he never forgot his roots. Through the Calasiao Association and his own personal efforts he provided financial support to the St. Joseph Chapel in Nagsaing, built a water pumping station in Barangay and a rest area for the jeepney stops. He provided scholarships and financial support to the families and communities in the province. His last memorable humanitarian project for the Calasiao Association was a free Medical-Dental & Optical Mission in Pangasinan last February 2018. He lived purposely to serve others which brought joy to his own life and to those lives he touched.

He was preceded in death by his father, Procesco and mother, Simeona.

He is survived by his wife, Delia Paris; children: Michael Paris, Margie Diaz (spouse Ronald Diaz), and Maryann Soriano (spouse Emil Soriano); grandchildren: Isaiah Diaz, Jacob Diaz, and Elle Soriano; and siblings: Ediong Paris, Eduardo Paris, Dominador Paris, Antonio Paris, Aricson Paris, Arturo Paris, and Merle Jimenez.