BERKLEY FIELDS

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 31, 2010

COAL GROVE — Berkley Eugene Fields, 90, of Coal Grove, passed away Monday, Aug. 30, 2010, at a local healthcare facility. He was born Feb. 11, 1920, the son of the late Lester K. Fields and Ethel Mae Blair. His grandparents were William C. and Rebecca Sherman Fields and William S. and Emma Faulkner Blair. Berkley graduated from Dawson-Bryant High School in 1938, and was active in the sports program. After high school he worked various jobs, which included farming, clearing timber and working for the county.
Berkley entered the U.S. Navy, April 1943 and was sent to Great Lakes Naval Training Center at Chicago, Ill. He was then stationed at the Navy Gunnery School at Gulfport, Miss. from June 9, 1943 until Aug. 4, 1943. He then boarded the S.S. Clinton Kelley at Portland, Ore., and was at Omaha Beach during the invasion. He then boarded the A.C. Bedford, and was at Utah Beach. He was stationed at the U.S. Navy Guard Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. until Oct. 15, 1945. His last duty was at Lido Beach, Long Island, N.Y. until Oct. 22, 1945. Berkley’s time in the U.S. Navy was from April 1, 1943 until Oct. 22, 1945. After returning from military service, he was employed by the Semet Solvay Division of Allied Chemical Corp. and traveled for Allied Chemical as a plant-operating engineer. Berkley was a faithful member of Zoar Baptist Church in Coal Grove, where he served as church treasurer and trustee for many years. In addition to his parents and grandparents, he is preceded in death by his loving wife, Gladys Evelyn Boyer; son, Michael Fields; and sister, Joann Robinson.
Berkley is survived by one brother and his wife, Billy and Charlene Fields of Auburndale, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Clara Fields of Coal Grove; six grandchildren, Ellen Adkins and her husband, Donnie of South Point, Larry Fields of Coal Grove, David Fields of Coal Grove, Melissa Landers and her husband, Scott of South Point, Leslie Morrison Stevens and her husband, Greg of Coal Grove and John Fields and his wife, Jodi of Coal Grove; and 13 great-grandchildren, Eric Fields, Ashley Adkins, Brandon Adkins, Kala Landers, Isaac Fields, Skylar Morrison, Zakary Landers, Lauren Fields, Andrew Fields, Lukas Landers, Sydney Fields, Mia Fields and Blake Landers.
A funeral service will be held at 11a.m. Thursday at the Tracy Brammer Funeral Home, Ironton with Rev. Jim Beals officiating. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday evening. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tracybrammerfh.com.