PICKAWAY, WV --- Ralph Ellison Mann "Skipper", age 77, of Pickaway, WV died peacefully on July 11, 2021 with his sweetheart, wife Jane and his youngest daughter by his side at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Born on May 14, 1944 in Charlottesville, VA, he was the son of the late Ralph and Hazel Ellison Mann of Union, WV.

Skipper, with his most remarkable laugh, was always the life of a party. He loved his family deeply, enjoyed long conversations, and never missed a gathering. Skipper was a graduate of Union High School, attended WVU and Davis & Elkins College, and volunteered with Americorps VISTA. After moving to Grand Rapids, MI, he worked for Tom Fox at Fox's Jewelers and later for Veurink's RV Center. In his pastime, he enjoyed cooking, bird watching, and learning the history of both the Civil War and WWII. He will be missed dearly by his friends and family.

He is survived by his wife Jane E. Mann; his seven children Mark Ellison Mann and his wife Cami of Grand Rapids MI, Christina Marie Berg and her husband Patrick of Rockford MI, Holly-Noelle Angelina Mathews and her husband Charles of Gilbert AZ, Gregory Sutton Mann and his partner Brandon Halloran of Wyoming MI, Eric Freeman Mann and his wife Jaclyn of Austin TX, Benjamin Blanton Mann and his wife Darci of Jensen Beach FL, and Lindsay Terese Jameson and her husband Adam of Union WV; his 14 grandchildren Zachariah, Alexander, Joshua, Ryan, Olivia, Charles, Michael, Madeleine, Ellison, Margaret, Lucas, Sofia, Ashleigh, and Dylan; his 5 great-grandchildren August, Levi, Clara, Odin, and Alder; and his sister Margaret Mann Thiessen and her husband Paul of Eltville, Germany.

Memorial services will be held at the Groves-Mann Funeral Home in Union on Saturday, August 7th at 2 pm. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Those wishing to send the Mann Family online condolences or would like to sign the online guestbook may do so by visiting www.groves-mann.com . In keeping with Skipper's support of the community and in memory of Skipper's father Ralph W. Mann, a founding member of the Union Volunteer Community Fire Department, donations may be sent to the UVFD P.O. Box 769 Union, WV 24983 in lieu of flowers or gifts. Arrangements by Groves-Mann Funeral Home in Union, WV.