Vinton Lincoln Stanfield Jr.

Vinton Lincoln Stanfield, Jr., a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great grandfather, a proud veteran, and faithful friend joined his Heavenly family on 9 October 2026.

He was born in Boise, Idaho on 16 December 1943, to Rosella and Vinton L. Stanfield Sr. Even as a young boy, he seemed to have a special knack for adventure – and apparently, snakes had a knack for finding him! If there was one in the vicinity, you could be sure Vinton would cross its path.

While still in high school, Vinton joined the Idaho National Guard, beginning what would become a long and distinguished career of service to his country. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended the Defense Language Institute, where he learned Korean.

His first assignment took him to South Korea, where he served with an armor unit. Yet even amid the demands of military life, Vinton found time to serve others. During his off-duty hours, he volunteered at a local orphanage – a small but meaningful glimpse into the generous heart behind the soldier.

During his second trip to Korea, Vinton survived a serious skull fracture. His proficiency in the Korean language would later give him the opportunity to become an Intelligence Analyst and Interpreter for the Commanding General.

He also had a lifelong love of photography, a talent that would lead to additional responsibilities throughout his military career. But perhaps one of the most important chapters of his life began while he was stationed at Ft. McPherson, Georgia.

It was there that he met his future wife, Muriel Michele Tucker, a criminal investigator serving in the Women’s Army Corps. What began as conversations in the dining facility, soon blossomed into something neither could have anticipated.

After knowing Michele for just 28 days, Vinton learned he was being transferred. Being a practical man who knew what he wanted, he proposed in a way that was uniquely his own:

“OK, here’s the deal. I am being transferred and would like to know if you would like to continue this conversation.”

Fortunately for Vinton, Michele said yes, and they were married the next day! Within just a few months, he departed for his first tour in Vietnam. It was certainly an unconventional beginning to married life, but it marked the start of a love story that would endure through the many adventures, challenges, and blessings still to come.

His next assignment took him to the U.S. Army’s Atomic Test site in Mercury, Nevada, where his photography skills were once again put to use. And for anyone concerned about his proximity to those atomic tests, Vinton had a reassuring explanation: his camera lens wouldn’t even focus unless he was at least 20 miles away!

It was during this chapter of their lives that Vinton and Michele welcomed their first child, Michele Jessica. Just 11 months later, their family grew again with the arrival of twins, Vinton Lincoln III and Victoria Lizabeth.

Vinton was subsequently asked to join the U.S. Army Special Forces, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he earned the honor of becoming a Green Beret.

The years that followed brought back-to-back tours to Korea and Vietnam. While Vinton served his country overseas, Michele cared for their growing family, making annual moves between Idaho, where Vinton’s family lived and New York, where her own family resided.

Life as a military family required tremendous strength, patience and sacrifice. Through the long separations and constant changes, Vinton and Michele continued building the family and life they cherished.

So it was welcome news when Vinton was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Forces Group in Panama.

Before leaving for Panama, the family had purchased a beautiful, brand-new1970 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. When Michele and the children arrived a few months later, Vinton explained to his wife that he had traded their brand new car for a pick-up truck with a camper and two Colombian Pasofino horses!

And so began another unforgettable chapter in the Stanfield family’s adventures.

While stationed in Panama, Vinton served as an instructor at the School of Americas, helped run the Jungle Operations Training and POW training sites for Active Duty and Reservists. His responsibilities also took him on multiple assignments throughout Central and South America.

But when duty allowed, Vinton made certain that his family experienced the wonders of the country around them. Together, they traveled extensively, developed a love of horses, and became involved in Western-style equestrian events throughout the Canal Zone. Eventually, the family owned six horses, and Vinton expanded his considerable talents by becoming an equestrian judge and a ferrier.

As though these pursuits weren’t enough, he built his family a dune buggy, received his pilot’s license, and, of course managed to encounter a few more snakes along the way. Their youngest child, Rachele Zebrina, was born during this time, rounding out the family beautifully.

Panama was also the setting for an especially meaningful milestone in Vinton’s spiritual life. He embraced the Catholic faith, and he and Michele celebrated their marriage in the Catholic Church, deepening the faith that would remain an important part of their lives.

Vinton’s language abilities and intelligence experience next brought him to the American Embassy in Mexico City. For Vinton and his family, Mexico became much more than another duty station. Whenever time permitted, they traveled from one end of that country to the other, discovering its beauty, history, traditions and people.

From there, it was on to the American Embassy in Ottawa, Canada.

Later, a former Commander (and horse enthusiast) from Panama requested Vinton’s assignment to Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. While there he served as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Modern Pentathlon Training Center, supporting active duty and reserve military athletes for the Olympics.

During these final years of his Army career, Vinton continued to find new ways to serve his church and community. He became a Deacon in the Catholic Church, ministering to the elderly and disabled, a Boy Scout leader and was both an instructor and student at Incarnate Word College.

And somewhere along the way, there were, naturally, a few more encounters with snakes.

In 1982, Vinton retired from the United States Army, closing one extraordinary chapter of his life.

But retirement from the military did not mean retirement from adventure...

Vinton began a second career working with Panasonic and Hattori Seiko. By this time, their oldest daughter was attending Texas A&M University, and the twins had entered the military themselves.

Vinton, Michele, and their youngest daughter moved to Sparta, New Jersey. Several months later while on vacation visiting family in Florida, their home was destroyed by fire.

Faced with the loss of their home and some difficult decisions, Vinton and Michele chose a path that perhaps only they could have imagined.

They bought a sail boat.

What began as a new direction in life turned into nearly ten years of extraordinary experiences on the water.

Vinton studied for and earned his U.S. Coast Guard/Merchant Marine Officer license. Traveling, sailing and home schooling their youngest daughter made life exciting and fun. Vinton, Michele, and Rachele even developed and hosted a three-day aquatic themed “Olympics” with over two hundred participants who were also ‘live-aboard’ boaters. Damage to their boat by Hurricane Hugo in Puerto Rico forced them to rebuild their ‘sailing kitty’ by working for the U.S. Navy in Bermuda.

When the based closed, they set their sites on Turkey.

Unfortunately the journey brought another unexpected challenge - after having some work done on their sailboat, it caught fire halfway between the Azores and Portugal.

But Vinton and Michele were not easily discouraged.

They still headed to Turkey where they found employment with the U.S. government. After Turkey, they headed to Italy and spent the next several wonderful years living, working, and exploring.

As their family continued to grow with the addition of many grandchildren, the desire to be closer to loved ones brought them back to Texas. In Liberty Hill, they purchased a home on nothing more than a handshake – a fitting arrangement for a man who understood the value of trust and a person’s word.

Vinton and Michele once again found employment as federal employees, and a few years later they opened their home to guests...Liberty House Bed and Breakfast was born.

Vinton managed to bring home a pizza oven from Italy, and that oven soon became much more than a place to cook.

It became a gathering place – ‘Men, Men, Men’ and Airedale Terriers.

Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, holidays, and other countless occasions brought the family together around Vinton’s pizza oven. Sometimes there didn’t even need to be a special occasion. Perhaps Vinton had simply survived another encounter with a snake!

For a man whose life had taken him around the world, some of his happiest moments were spent right there at home, surrounded by the people he loved. Vinton and Michele later compiled many of those happy moments and other stories into a book, fittingly titled Fantastic and Getting Better! (Stories to remind us that God, Family and Friends are what matter to make a Fantastic Day!)

Vinton was also a gifted craftsman and carpenter. His home wood shop was a place where he made furniture, beautiful objects of art, and even stage props for some of his grandchildren. His hands were rarely idle and woodworking was one more expression of his love for his family.

Additionally, he found time to complete a monumental family genealogy project. The vast majority of the research was painstakingly compiled by his uncle, Oscar Stanfield, who traced the family line all the way back to 1066 A.D. Vinton proudly brought the history across the finish line by documenting and adding his own children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to the permanent family record.

Vinton remained deeply proud of his military service and the men and women who served alongside him. He became a life member of the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW), serving as commander several times.

Yet for all his accomplishments, Vinton also found great happiness in life’s simplest pleasures. He loved taking his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to Dairy Queen for no special reason except spending time together.

Service to others remained a constant throughout Vinton and Michele’s lives.

While working their federal jobs, Vinton and Michele became Red Cross volunteers, serving as a lead response team for emergencies throughout Austin and surrounding counties.

Following Hurricane Katrina, Vinton and his best friend, another military veteran, spent six months helping those whose lives had been devastated in New Orleans. He and Michele also spent weeks as volunteers with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

For Vinton, service was never simply something he had done in the Army – it was a part of who he was.

In 2021, Vinton and Michele decided it was time to down-size and moved to Georgetown (Sun City), Texas.

There, Vinton continued doing what he had always done – making friends, becoming involved, and finding ways to contribute.

He enjoyed participating in several Sun City organizations such as the American Legion, the Veteran’s club, the Horticulture club, Catholic Dinner Rosary group, and Special Friends.

His later years brought increasing health challenges which slowed him down some, but no matter how difficult a day might be, there always seemed to be time for a game of cribbage.

Vinton was a member of Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus in Andice, Texas.

His Catholic faith remained a source of strength and hope throughout his life.

On 9 October 2026, surrounded by many members of his loving family, Vinton peacefully departed this earthly life in the hope of the resurrection promised through his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy.

A legacy of patriotism and love of his large family will always be remembered and celebrated.

May he rest in the peace of Christ – until we meet again.

Vinton is survived by:

• His beloved wife of 61 years, Michele Stanfield

• His daughter, Michele Shaver

• His son, Vinton Stanfield III (Peggy)

• His daughter, Victoria Panther (Larry)

• His daughter, Rachele Powell

• His 25 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren

• His loving sister, Barbara Miller (Monte)

He is preceded in death by:

• His mother, Rosella Stanfield

• His father, LTC Vinton L. Stanfield Sr. (USAAC)

• His sister, Joanne Baird

• His brother, Scott Stanfield

• His son-in-law, Bryan Shaver

“I saw the love of my life, for sixty-one years, a husband, brother, father, grand-father, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend and proud veteran eyes start to fade from his earthly life. Then his breath was gone. Gone where? Gone from our sight. Just at the moment when I truly saw that he was gone...I realized that there were others’ eyes watching his coming and saying...Here he comes…! Welcome to Heaven, Vinton.”

My Dearest Love, With all of my heart, I love you, I thank you for our life together, for our family, for our faith, and for letting me be me. I truly love you more. Your loving wife, Michele.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions should be made to either HELP.DAV.ORG or HEROES.VFW.ORG