Obituary of Lt Col. Muriel Ward Fielding

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) M Ward Fielding, age 88, passed away on June 30, 2018

LTC Fielding was born in Ocala on May 2, 1930. He graduated from Ocala High School in 1948. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He also played in the Air Force Band where he was a trumpet principal. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, LTC Fielding joined the Army and earned both his bachelor’s degree in Music Education and master’s degree in Education Administration from Florida State University. At FSU, he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, the Phi Delta Kappa honor society, and the Phi Mu Alpha honor society. He was also first trumpet in the FSU Marching Chiefs. LTC Fielding completed post-graduate work at University of Florida, Auburn University, and Emory University.

LTC Fielding graduated from the Army Military Police School and the Army Command & General Staff College after his time at FSU. He then served as Assistant Director of Instruction at the Infantry Training Center in Fort Benning, Georgia. He was also past Commanding Officer of the 351^st Military Police Unit in Ocala. LTC Fielding was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service and the Distinguished Service Medal.  LTC Fielding retired from his military career on May 2, 1990.

LTC Fielding served as a teacher & public-school administrator at several schools in Georgia and Florida to include Madras Junior High School in Georgia and Cedar Key School, Bell High School and North Marion High School in Florida. He was the band director at Chamblee High School in Georgia and he was the first band director at Forest High School in Ocala.

LTC Fielding was a member of the Silver Springs Lion’s Club and was also a Mason with a lifetime membership to the Marion-Dunn Lodge. Additionally, he was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4781, the American Legion FL Post 27, Retired Officers Association, Reserve Officers Association, and an honorary member of Paralyzed Veterans of America. He was a long-time member of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church.

LTC Fielding is survived by his wife of 62 years, Miriam Fielding; his sons, Mark Fielding & Jim Fielding; his daughter, Gladys Fielding; and his three grandsons, Brandon Bedford, Trevor Bedford, and Carson Bedford. LTC Fielding was predeceased by his son Earl Fielding.

Services are to be held at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church (UMC) at 11am on Friday July 6. The family will be receiving guests one-hour prior to the service, and Masonic Rites will be bestowed at Saint Paul’s UMC. Military honors will be bestowed at graveside at Hillcrest Cemetery Ocala immediately following the service at Saint Paul’s. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Wounded Warrior Project would be appreciated.

Arrangements by Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services. Ocala, FL 352-629-7171