William F. (Bill) Mansfield, 89, a decorated Army officer and long-time employee of New England Telephone, died May 24,2015 after a short illness. He was a long-time resident of Braintree and Big Sandy Pond, Plymouth, and more recently resided in North Easton and Naples, FL.

Mr. Mansfield retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer Four in 1985 after nearly 38 years of active and reserve service. During WWII he served in the Navy, including two years in the Pacific as a crew member of the USS Hale (DD642), where he participated in five major battles, including the invasions of Leyte and Okinawa. He served on active duty as a Master Sergeant during the Korean War and as a Chief Warrant Officer Three, including assignment with the 125th Signal Battalion, 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he was awarded two Bronze Star Medals and the Army Commendation Medal. Upon his retirement he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Mr. Mansfield was employed as a cable splicer, testman, and in various management positions during his 44 years with the telephone company; he retired in 1990. He spent his retired years playing golf and traveling with his wife Julie (Maneikis), to whom he was married for 53 years before she passed away in 2001.

He is survived by two daughters, Sharyn Jerome and her husband John of North Easton and Clare Mansfield and her husband Brendan Keating of South Easton. He was the father of the late William (Chip) Mansfield. He was the proud and loving grandfather of Jessica Sutherland of Lexington, KY, the late Rebecca Jerome, and Sarah Tracy of Easton, and the great-grandfather of Adam and Owen Tracy. Mr. Mansfield was the brother of Ruth Farina, Frances Doherty, and LTC John Mansfield, USAF, who predeceased him.

He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, the Reserve Officers Association, Military Officers Association of America, USS Hale Association, American Legion Post 294 of Quincy, and the North Hill Country Club of Duxbury. A graduate of North Quincy High School, class of 1943, and Newbury College; he also attended Boston State College. Mr. Mansfield was an alter server for several years at St. Clare’s Parish in Braintree.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday May 28 at 9AM in the Church of St. Clare 1244 Liberty St. Braintree Highlands. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit the McMaster Funeral Home 86 Franklin St. (Rt.37) Braintree Wednesday from 5-8 PM. Due to the restriction of flowers at the National Cemetery the family sincerely requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions in his name can be made to the Rebecca A. Jerome Memorial Scholarship C/O Harbor One Bank, 472 Foundry St., No. Easton, MA 02356