Cloyce L. Mangas

Cloyce Leland Mangas, 86, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army (Retired), a 43-year resident of Richmond, Indiana, died peacefully at 3:45 a.m., Monday, November 17, 2014, at Forest Park Health Campus in Richmond. Cloyce was born on January 30, 1928 in Darke County, Ohio, near Union City, Indiana, the second son of Arthur Victor and Gladys Leora (Stump) Mangas. He attended schools in Jackson Township and Wayne Township in Randolph County, Indiana, graduating in 1946 from Wayne High School. He graduated Class of 1950 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated in 1959 from Harvard University (Master of Public Administration) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cloyce served 27 years in the United States Army. He fought in the Korean War for thirteen months (November 1950 to December 1951) during some of the worst combat. He commanded an African-American tank platoon (1st Platoon of Company A, 64th Heavy Tank Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division) for most of his tour of duty. Wounded twice in battle in Korea, Cloyce was awarded the Silver Star for valor, the Bronze Star with V for Valor, another Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. Upon his return to the United States, Cloyce and Norma Joan Chenoweth, of Lynn, Indiana, were married on February 3, 1952 in Lynn, and they remained married for more than sixty-two years. They raised four sons, mostly on or near Army bases around the country and Germany (twice) (with the Second Armored Division in Bad Kreuznach and Headquarters, US Army Europe, Heidelberg). Cloyce taught economics at West Point for four years (1960 - 1964). He served at the Pentagon for three years during the Vietnam War (1966 - 1969), where he was awarded the Legion of Merit. From September 1969 to September 1970 Cloyce served in combat in Vietnam. He was the U.S. Advisor (Liaison) to the First Regiment, Korean Capital (Tiger) Division (Infantry), Republic of Korea (ROK). He was awarded his second Legion of Merit, Air Medal, and the Korean Im Hung decoration. For service in the U.S. Army Combat Developments Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (1970 - 1973), he earned his third award of the Legion of Merit. He retired on May 31, 1973. He had spent nearly seven years overseas during his military career. For many years thereafter, he was in the real estate business as a broker in Richmond, Indiana for Ohio and Indiana customers. For over forty years, he was a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Richmond, Indiana. Throughout his military career he served as Sunday School Superintendent. A Life Scout as a boy, all his life he loved to fish and hunt and hike. He coached Little League Baseball at West Point, volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America in Germany, and for many years enjoyed his friends at Morning Kiwanis in Richmond. Cloyce is survived by his wife, Joan; his four sons, Cloyce Leland (Lee) Mangas, Jr., Orlando, Florida; David Alan Mangas, Richmond, Indiana; Ronald Brian Mangas, Sr. (Sherry), Oak Hill, Virginia; and Thomas Bruce Mangas (Allison), Lititz, Pennsylvania and Stamford, Connecticut; six grandchildren, Ronald Brian Mangas, Jr. (Marybeth), Washington, DC; Steven Grant Mangas, Oak Hill, Virginia; Whitney Elise Mangas, Charlottesville, Virginia; Alexander Cutright Mangas, Rochester, New York; Carter Marie Mangas, Lititz, Pennsylvania; and Garrett Kemer Mangas, Lititz, Pennsylvania. Cloyce is survived by his older brother, Delbert Lavon Mangas, Framingham, Massachusetts; and his three sisters, Wilva June (Mangas) Beehler (Elwood), Tucson, Arizona; Carol Marlene (Mangas) Mrizek (Edward), Gardnerville, Nevada; and Judith Arlee (Mangas) Davis (Herb), Green Valley, Arizona; a sister-in-law, Martha Elva (Lushr) Mangas, Rockford, Illinois; two brothers-in-law, Frank Chenoweth (Jo), Lynn, Indiana; and Ed Chenoweth, Jr. (Thelma), Linden, Indiana; and many nephews and nieces, and grand-nephews and grand-nieces. Cloyce was predeceased by his parents and his younger brother, Darrel Leslie Mangas (Martha), Rockford, Illinois; and by Cloyce’s sister-in-law, Violet Ethel (Rhodes) Mangas, Framingham, Massachusetts. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, November 28, 2014, at First Christian Church, 100 South 10th Street, Richmond, Indiana 47374. Pastor Amanda Hines will officiate. Friends may call before the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Cloyce will be buried near generations of his ancestors, close to his boyhood church, New Lisbon Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), in New Lisbon Cemetery, near Union City, Randolph County, Indiana. Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church.

Cloyce L. Mangas

January 30, 1928 - November 17, 2014

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Cloyce L. Mangas

January 30, 1928 - November 17, 2014

Obituary Notification

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information