Donald Howard Stansfield, Sr, 91, of  Rockport, longtime Ipswich resident, died Sunday, July 22, 2012 in the Beverly Hospital following his brief illness.

Born in Lawrence November 20, 1920 son of the late Arthur and Margaret (Sellars) Stansfield, he lived as a child in Danvers where he attended the Holten Richmond School and Ipswich where he attended the Payne School.

A WWII Veteran, he enlisted in the United States Army on October 20, 1940 and proudly  served until his Honorable Discharge on June 25, 1945. He was assigned to the First Infantry Division Company B 1^st Combat Medical Battalion attached to the 18^th Infantry Regiment. He was decorated with the Bronze Star, a good conduct medal, eight campaign stars and one Arrowhead Victory medal and Belgium and French F’our-ra-gere.

For thirty-seven years he was the husband of the late Jane Dolan of Ipswich. Following her death, in 1983 he married Virginia (Lane) Hopkins of Rockport.

Mr. Stansfield was well known to many as a postal carrier, employed for thirty-five years for the Ipswich Post Office. He was a member of the Ipswich V.F.W. Post #1093 and the American Legion Post #80.

In addition to his wife Virginia he is survived by two sons, Donald H. Stansfield, Jr. of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and James E. Stansfield of Ipswich; four daughters, Donna J. Hughes and her husband Steven of Ipswich, Patricia J. Tarbox and her husband William of Wolfeboro, NH, Eileen J. Mansell and her husband Richard of Madbury, NH and Janet M. Champagne and her husband David of Hooksett, NH; stepson David Hopkins and his wife Ann of Punta Gorda, FL; sister-in-law Grace Stansfield of Peabody; nine grandchildren and many great grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

He was the brother of the late Arthur and William Stansfield, both formerly of Peabody, Ernest Stansfield formerly of Andover, Mary Ryan formerly of Barre, VT and Grace O’Donnell formerly of Essex.

His funeral Service with Army Honors will be held graveside 11 am Saturday, July 28 in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Visiting hours are Tuesday, July 24, 4 to 8 pm with a Veterans Service at 8 pm in the Whittier-porter Funeral Home, 6 High St., Ipswich. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in his name may be made to a charity of one’s choice.