On Tuesday, January 21, Claude Emerson Fields, 98, of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed into the nearer presence of God just two days short of his 99th birthday. He was born in 1915 in Richwood, Ohio. He is survived by his life-long partner and wife of 72 years, Marie Patricia Fields (Wark), of Raleigh and daughters; Barbara Ann Orthner (Fields) of Raleigh and Betty Jean Clark (Fields) of Macon, Georgia, as well as two sons-in-law, seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Mr. Field, a Purple Heart recipient, served in the Army as a First Lieutenant during WWII for five years and took part in the North African, Sicilian, and Normandy Invasions. Upon returning to civilian life, he worked in the retail field, primarily as management in men’s clothing. In his spare time he enjoyed golfing, reading, and traveling to visit with family members, especially his siblings in Ohio regularly each summer.

While the above accomplishments are notable, the attributes his family will most cherish are his sense of humor, his friendliness, his intelligence and spunk. People entered his life as strangers but surely left as friends. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Renaissance Funeral Home of Raleigh in charge of arrangements. A memorial service will be held at Raleigh Vineyard Church on Sunday, January 26th at 3 PM.

“O what a blessed day that will be when I shall . . . stand on the shore and look back on the raging seas I have safely passed; when I shall review my pains and sorrows, my fears and tears, and possess the glory which was the end of all!” ― Richard Baxter