Name: Larry Willard Wakefield

                         Branch of Service: U.S. Merchant
                         Marines

                         Unit:

                         Rank: Corporal

                         Dates of Service: 1944-January 1957

                         Area of Service: Atlantic, Europe

Larry Willard Wakefield was born on November 23, 1926, in Henry Co., Virginia; he was the son of Lewis Willard Wakefield (1890-1974) and Mary Ann (Stepp) Wakefield (1899-) of Schuyler, Albemarle County, Virginia.  Larry left Scottsville High School in Scottsville, Virginia, in 1943 at the early age of seventeen and joined the Merchant Marines.  He sailed the famous Liberty ships through U-Boat infested North Atlantic waters to take supplies to the U.S. troops and our European Allies.  After WWII, Larry earned his G.E.D. diploma much to the satisfaction of his mother, Mary Wakefield.  Larry later served in the 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper during the Korean War. 

Larry Willard Wakefield passed away on September 6, 2017, and he is buried at Prescott National Cemetery, Yavapai County, Arizona.  Larry's wife, Ramona Rosella Wakefield, passed away in 2012 and is buried beside him at the Prescott National Cemetery.

Larry Willard Wakefield and Ramona Rosella Wakefield.  The memorial service for United States Army Corporal Larry Willard Wakefield and Ramona Rosella Wakefield, will be at 11 a.m., Friday, October 20, 2017, at Heritage Memory Mortuary, 131 Grove Ave., in Prescott, Arizona, with Eddie Raymond Rodriguez officiating.  Internment at the Prescott National Cemetery will follow with military honors.

Corporal Wakefield, of Black Canyon City, passed away Tuesday evening, Sept. 26, 2017, peacefully at home at the age of 90.   He was born in Henry County, Virginia, on November 23, 1926, and graduated from the U.S. Maritime Service Training for Merchant Seaman in May of 1945.

He joined the U.S. Army and served his country as a paratrooper until January 1957.  He attained the rank of Corporal.  Corporal Wakefield worked for the United States Geodetic Survey from June 1957 to October 1987, retiring after being Chief Advisor for four western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, and Utah.

He is survived by his brother, James Richard (Linda) Wakefield of West Virginia; his son, Larry Gray (Barbara) Wakefield; and daughters, Annette (Eddie) Rodriguez, Karen Dunham, and Danna (Mike Roche) Wakefield, all of metro Phoenix area; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Ramona Rosella Wakefield; his parents, Lewis W. Wakefield and Mary Ann (Stepp) Wakefield; his brothers, Dean L. Wakefield and Zachary T. Wakefield; and his sisters, Donna Ruth Wakefield, Ann Sweeney, Alice Fowilkes, and Mary Lou Wakefield.