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Stanfield, Ronald

Ronald Dale Stanfield, 63, of Glendale, Ariz., died Saturday, March 25, 2006, in Phoenix.

He was born Dec. 20, 1942, in Prescott, Ariz., to Wellman and Mildred (Stanfield) Steele. After his mother died, he lived with his grandparents, Jim and Mae Stanfield of Grady, where he attended school. After graduating in 1961, he joined the Air Force and was stationed at Luke Air Force Base at Phoenix.

While in the Air Force, he married Deanna Porterfield. After honorable discharge in 1966, he joined U. S. West Telephone Co. in Phoenix and retired in 1991. He served more than 26,000 hours in about 26 years in the Phoenix Reserve Police Force, the first person to reach that milestone, family members said, and served until illness prevented his continuing in 2002.

He received numerous citations and awards for outstanding police work and several “heroic” awards, including the Theodore N. Vail Bronze Medal by the U. S. West Telephone Co. for helping to save the life of a toddler who had fallen into a swimming pool.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and brother, Cecil Dwain Thomas.

He is survived by one son, Robert Leroy Stanfield (and wife, Robin) of Phoenix; three daughters, Rhonda Sue Kusmit of Phoenix, Lisa Dawn (Robert) Atkins of Cordes Lakes, Ariz., and Kathy Ellen (David) Raciti of West Columbia, Texas; three sisters, Sue (Tommy) Ricketson of Amistad, Dorothy (Randy) Barrett of Little Rock, Ark., and Diane Steele of Los Angeles; and seven grandchildren, Jason, Brandon, Tiffany and Nicholas Kusmit, Jacob and David Stanfield, and Jerry Farina.

A police honor funeral service was held on March 30 at the Northern Hills Community Church in Phoenix.

Memorials may be made to the Phoenix Police Reserves, The American Cancer Society, The Grady School Alumni Scholarship Fund or a favorite charity.

Arrangements were by Shadow Mountain Mortuary in Phoenix.