Obituaries in Evansville, IN | Courier Press (2024)

Dr. W.K. Manchette, 100, of Evansville, Indiana, passed away Thursday, April 11, 2024 at his home surrounded by his family.

Dr. Manchette was born in Poseyville, Indiana on July 14, 1923 to the late Ralph and Rose (Appman) Manchette. He graduated from Stewartsville High School in 1942. Immediately following his graduation, Dr. Manchette walked from Stewartsville to Evansville to enroll at the University of Evansville. He attended the University of Evansville for the 1942 fall semester before being drafted into the United States Army for World War II. Due to his semester in college, Dr. Manchette was pulled from the ranks and became a surgical assistant in the Fifth Army 171st Evacuation Hospital in Naples, Italy. He was eventually moved up to serve directly behind the front lines in Yugoslavia. Six months later, the military sent Dr. Manchette to Kansas State University to become an engineer. In 1945, Dr. Manchette was one semester away from graduating as an engineer when the military promoted him to 2nd Lieutenant and relocated him to St. Louis University to become a dentist - what had ultimately been his lifelong ambition. Three years later, on June 6, 1948, he married the love of his life, Helen (Daub) Manchette. The two would go on to be married for 75 years. Dr. Manchette graduated from St. Louis University in 1950 as an oral surgeon. Upon graduating, he was promoted to Captain and sent to Busan, South Korea to serve in the Korean War. Dr. Manchette was immediately put in command of the Fifth Army 2nd Logistical Hospital. When he was appointed commanding officer, Dr. Manchette's medical unit was attached to a prisoner of war camp that held 1,500 prisoners. He was responsible for treating and performing emergency dental work on all Army personnel as well as North Korean captives.

In 1952, Dr. Manchette returned to Evansville to open his own dentistry practice. He would go on to practice dentistry and serve as the patriarch for All In The Family Dental for an astounding 69 years, retiring at the age of 96. At the time, Dr. Manchette had surpassed the Guinness Book of World Records oldest practicing dentist - a 94 year old man from Jerusalem. Dr. Manchette was featured in the 2017 "40 Under 40" edition of Incisal Edge, a nationally distributed dental magazine, as the "1 of 90", recognizing him as America's oldest practicing dentist. In the featured article, Dr. Manchette details when he first became interested in dentistry as a farm boy during the Depression. He said, "When I was 8 or 9, I developed a toothache. My mother put two hens in a sack and put them on my bicycle handlebars. I sold the chickens for 50 cents each and went to the dentist. He removed the tooth. I asked him what I owed; he told me a dollar. I thought, "This might be better than staying on the farm."

During his time in dentistry, Dr. Manchette served in a various capacities within the dental community. He was a past president of the Indiana Dental Association (IDA), and was also the editor of Hoosier Dentist, a newsletter for dentists within the IDA. In addition, Dr. Manchette served as president of the Vanderburgh County Dental Society from 1978-1979, and president of the Indiana Academy of General Dentistry (IAGD) from 1984-1985. He was a member of Omicron Kappa Epsilon's Honorary Dental Society Eta Eta Chapter, a lifetime member of Delta Sigma Delta, and a Fellow of the International College of Dentists. Dr. Manchette received numerous awards and recognitions during his time as a dentist as well. He was recognized by the IAGD as Dentist of the Year in 1990, and by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) for "Outstanding Reporting of the Clinical Content of Indiana AGD Continuing Education Activites."

Outside of work, Dr. Manchette was a true Christian. He had a deep, unwavering faith in God. He loved and enjoyed attending Eagle's View Church. Dr. Manchette was also an avid hunter. He enjoyed traveling to Colorado to hunt elk and mule deer. Additionally, he liked to hunt morel mushrooms, go fishing, and gardening. Dr. Manchette grew numerous vegetables and fruit trees at his home. In April of 2016, he was able to go on Honor Flight EVV 4. Most importantly, Dr. Manchette loved his family and was always there for them. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Dr. Manchette was always supportive of his children and grandchildren's endeavors. He was a genuine man that possessed a calming, loving, and patient presence. Dr. Manchette will be deeply missed by all those who knew him, but those who had the pleasure of knowing him will always remember the blessing he was to their lives.