Roy D. “Butch” Mansfield, 83

R. D. “Butch” Mansfield, 83, of Malvern, died on Aug. 2, 2009, at the Manor of Malvern Nursing

Roy Dean Mansfield, one of two children of Bessie Lillian (Bayley) Mansfield and Roy Wilkerson Mansfield, was born on April 4, 1926, in Malvern. Butch attended school in Malvern until his junior year in high school and then graduated from Kemper Military Academy in Booneville, Mo. in 1944. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy on April 1, 1944, and attended Quartermaster School in Farragut, Idaho. He later served as Helmsman on the USS LSM #533. He received his discharge on June 4, 1946, and enrolled at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and received his bachelor of science degree in 1950.

Butch married Bonnie Lou Kruse Feb. 16, 1957, at the Silver City Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Rick Mickelson; sister, Lenore (Clayton) Hertz; and sister-in-law, Eloise Kruse.

Butch is survived by his wife Bonnie Mansfield; daughter Barb (Ralph) Farmer of Malvern; son Bob (Juli) Mansfield of Parker, Colo.; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and brother-in-law Robert Kruse of Malvern.

Memorial Services were held Aug. 6 at Malvern United Methodist Church with Rev. Carl Phillips officiating. Burial was in Malvern Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established.

Mansfield-Hertz Funeral Home of Malvern in charge of arrangements.