James Mansfield

James Mansfield, 73 of Waco, died Monday, November 29, 2004 after a short illness. Services will be held at 11 am Thursday, December 2 at Austin Ave. United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Tom Robbins officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Mr. Mansfield was born in January 28, 1931 in San Antonio to Jess and Mabel Mansfield. He was the nephew of Leslie and Peggy Witt, formerly of Waco. He grew up in Austin where he participated in drama, ran track and played football for the Austin High School Maroons, graduating in 1949. Mansfield graduated from Baylor University in 1954 with a BBA and with a second lieutenant commission in the U.S. Air Force. He married Sharon Daly of Waco in 1953. While at Baylor, he was Corp Commander of the Baylor ROTC and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. Jim was a navigator and bombardier on a B-52 with the Strategic Air Command from 1954 until 1963, achieving the rank of Captain. He was Director of Transportation for Waco Independent School District from 1968 until 1988, and was a drug and alcohol counselor at the Regional Veterans Administration until 1999 where he encouraged many veterans into sobriety. He was devoted to wildlife preservation, gardening and Baylor football. He was a member of Austin Avenue United Methodist Church where he served as the Superintendent of the Sunday Schools and on the Board of Stewards. In recent years, Mansfield has been honored by several national organizations - including the American Veterans’ Association in 2001 - with the Silver Helmet Award for his focus on veterans seeking sobriety. This is the highest award given by AMVETS. He has been recognized by several, national religious magazines and received the George Washington Medal from the national office of Freedom’s Foundation at Valley Forge in 2003 for his support of children’s educational issues in post-Apartheid South Africa, and for sending thousands of discarded textbooks to schools and libraries in that country. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Ann Carol Mansfield, and his mother and father. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, of 51 years; daughters, Rebecca Mansfield, Susan Mansfield, Donna Francis and husband, Rick, and Nancy Jimenez and husband, Keith; and grandchildren, Richard Francis and Adam and Mark Jimenez. Pallbearers will be Mr. Clint Blackmon, Mr. Don Hearon, Mr. George Roberts, Mr. Carl Johnson, Dr. Richard Spinn, Dr. David Hardt and Mr. Bill McMillan. The family would like to express thanks to Dr. Robert Anderson, Dr. Crawford Allison, Dr. Charles Chitwood and Ms. Fannie Evans for their help while Jim was ill. Memorials may be sent to Austin Avenue United Methodist Church or to a local cancer charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. WILKERSON-HATCH-BAILEY