Marjorie Manning Postma

MARJORIE MANNING POSTMA - Marjorie Manning was born on January 7, 1916, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and passed away on November 23, 2010 in Houston, TX. The family moved to 14 Temple St., Arlington, Mass when Marjorie started school and lived there for five years.

The family then moved to Augusta, Maine, around 1924. Marjorie attended high school in Augusta and later moved to Hartford, CT, where she attended a branch of Mount Holyoke College for one year. She then attended Miss Marchant’s Business School and worked at the library part time.

She later obtained a job in 1936 with Phoenix Mutual in the legal department to write contracts for income settlements of insurance policies. Marjorie married on April 16, 1938 and went to live in Erie, PA with Otto, her husband.

Marjorie and Otto were married in the West Hartford Church where her father officiated and then the couple left immediately to go to Erie, PA. They took a one day honeymoon in Niagara Falls. Peter was born on July 12, 1939.

After Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Otto volunteered for service with the American Red Cross. At this time, Marjorie and Peter moved from Erie, PA to West Hartford to live with her parents, Stanley and Ethel Manning, on North Beacon Street in Hartford. Stanley Manning was the minister of the West Hartford Church. Marjorie and Peter moved into the parsonage with Stanley and Ethel on Middlefield Drive in West Hartford.

On Thursday, January 16, 1947 after 14 years as the pastor of the church in West Hartford, Stanley accepted a position as pastor in Avon, IL, the home of his wife’s family, at the Universalist-Congregational Church. Pete and Marjorie moved to Avon with Stanley and Ethel while Otto was in Italy.

The Avon church was originally a Universalist Church and then later when the Congregational Church four doors down from the Universalist Church burned down around 1940, the Congregational Church joined with the Universalist Church and became the Federated (Universalist – Congregational) Church. The Avon Church then became the Federated (Universalist – Congregational) Church.

Marjorie and Peter lived with the Mannings in Avon for at least two and one half years. Otto returned from Italy and obtained another job with Hartford Steam Boiler having the same territory in Pennsylvania, but living in Girard. Marjorie and Otto rented the parsonage for the Universalist Church for two years in Girard. Peter was in 5th grade in Girard, Pennsylvania. Marjorie worked for the “Holliday Shop” in Girard.

Then Otto was transferred to the Cleveland office, and the Postmas lived in Lakewood, Ohio. Otto and Marjorie and Peter rented a two bedroom flat in Lakewood during 3 years of Peter’s junior high and sophomore year of high school. Marjorie worked for West Disinfecting Company in Lakewood, Ohio.

Otto was transferred to Hartford Steam Boiler and lived in East Hartford, but the branch of HSB was in downtown Hartford. A house was purchased on Oak Street which was the first house owned by Marjorie and Otto. The residence was active for a year to fourteen months.

Otto was transferred and promoted to be the Manager of the Houston Branch of Hartford in 1956. David, Marjorie’s second child, was born on April 14, 1957.

Later Marjorie started attending the Congregational Church on Beinhorn. Marjorie did a great deal of volunteer work at the Congregational and developed many close friendships there. She also worked at the church for one day a week in the office. Marjorie also worked for 2-3 years for Arthur Dickinson, with Target Resources. Eventually, Marjorie served as the Treasurer of the Church, a Trustee, Chairman of the Trustees, Moderator for the entire church, and helped establish the Endowment Fund and served as Treasurer of the Endowment Fund for many years.

Marjorie Manning moved to The Forum at Memorial Woods on September 24, 2001.

Marjorie is predeceased by her parents, Stanley and Ethel Manning of Avon, and her brother, Donald E. Manning of Manchester, CT. She is survived by her son Peter S. Postma, and daughter-in-law Joan Postma, her son, David Postma and daughter-in-law Samarie Postma. She has two grandchildren Perri Postma Williams and husband Matt Williams and Robert Christopher Postma and wife Merrie Angela Postma. Marjorie has 4 great-grandchildren, Sam Williams, Sarah Williams, Danielle Postma and Benjamin Postma.

The family wishes to thank Joann Clark, Marilyn Wilson and Dorothy Price for their special care and comfort over Marjorie’s later years.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 2:00 P.M. at First Congregational Church, 10840 Beinhorn Road, Houston, TX 77024. For those desiring, the family suggests memorials be directed to the First Congregational Church Endowment Fund.