Dana Lawrence Mansur, Jr.

Dana Lawrence Mansur, Jr., age 80 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died on Monday, January 4, 2010 at his residence.

Born in Rutland, VT, May 24, 1929, son of the late Dana Lawrence and Marion Beatty Mansur, he had resided in Raritan Township over thirty years.

A United States Air Force veteran of the Korean War, Mr. Mansur was based in Seoul, South Korea at K-16. He was a flight engineer in the 21st/6461 Troop Carrier Squadron, nicknamed the 'Kyushu Gypsies' from 1952-1953. He was an air crew member in 'Operation Castle,' the hydrogen bomb tests in the Marshall Island in 1953-1954. Mr. Mansur went on to enter the USAF Reserves in 1955, was commissioned in 1959 and retired as a Major in 1978.

A 1973 graduate of Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA, he was formerly employed by Aerojet General, then was a design engineer for Raymond International and then finally was employed for Parmatics Inc., Denville, NJ.

Mr. Mansur was a member of the Flemington Presbyterian Church, Flemington, NJ, formerly serving as a Deacon and as an Elder. Additionally, he wrote the newsletter for the Kyushu Gypsy Squadron Association as well as several articles for 'Military Living's R&R Travel News.'

An avid traveler, Mr. Mansur loved to sail and taught sailing at the California Sailing Academy in Marina Del Ray and Newport, CA. He enjoyed doing genealogical research, which had been a lifelong hobby and also loved to do woodwork as well as dance.

He was pre-deceased by a son, Dana L. Mansur III and a daughter, Susan Lindsay.

Surviving are his wife, Jean Dickinson Mansur; four daughters, Denise Lawrence of Trabuco Canyon, CA, Patti Mansur Brown of Laguna Beach, CA, Dori Mansur Ratka of Gwynedd Valley, PA and Dara Mansur of Yardley, PA; two step-children, Karen Brandes Novacon of Osterville, MA and Robert Brandes of Bridgewater, NJ; ten grandchildren, Scott, Bryan and Louis Brown, Michelle, Lauren, Mitch and Eden Ratka, Alex and Mia Novacon and Emily Brandes; and two brothers, Richard Mansur of San Diego, CA and Ronald Mansur of Temecula, CA.

A Memorial Service will take place Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in the Flemington Presbyterian Church, 10 East Main Street, Flemington, NJ under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Interment will be private. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.

There will be an additional celebration of Mr. Mansur's life for his family and friends in California at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Flemington Presbyterian Church, 10 East Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822.