Alumnus Maunsell Clark “Sonny” Wakefield Passes Away
Maunsell Clark “Sonny” Wakefield who received a B.S. in chemical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 1946 passed away April 28, 2013 at the age of 92.
Wakefield was active in the Navy and Navy Reserve, from 1942 until his retirement in 1980, serving as commander in chief of several SeaBee Construction Battalions and as chief of staff of the Seabee Reserves. He received the Silver Star for his efforts, as a frogman, on the Underwater Demolition Team Seven, during WW II and acheived the rank of Captain.
He worked for Borden Co. in Milwaulkee, Chicago, and New York, then owned his own cement pigment company, Ricketson Color Corp., in Milwaulkee. He moved to Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi in the late 60’s where he managed several businesses, as well as an apple production company in Arizona. He was busy in the community serving as president of the local Red Cross, and president of the Gulf Coast Retired Officers Association. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, the American Cancer Society, and on the Advisory Council for Keesler Air Force Base Officers Club. Wakefield was an avid fisherman and golfer, having coordinated many tournaments for the Chamber , Cancer Society and Keesler Air Force Base. A military memorial service was held dockside in Biloxi August 16th. His ashes will be spread in his favorite fishing hole, near the Chandeleur Islands, by his fishing and Navy buddies.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Maunsell Clark Wakefield Sr. and Anna Mae Cook and first and second wives: Edythe Marsh Wakefield Traylor, and Lynn Garon Wakefield. He is survived by children: Nancy and Cathy Wakefield; Barbara and Rocky Garon, Lulu Mount and Marcia Johnson. He will be missed by grandson, Scott and wife Sara, and first cousin Anna C. “Tossie” Crook. Wakefield grew up in Dallas, Texas, attended North Dallas High School.
*Write up supplied by the Palacios Beacon online obituaries