Charles L Fields Sr.

Charles Leroy Fields was born May 6, 1924, to the union of Grant U. Fields and Mary E. Fields. He was the fourthout of six children where he and his siblings lived in the community called The American-Addition. He attended East High School and in1942 was drafted into the United States Army to fight in World War II. He was processed into the armed services at Fort Hayes and assigned to the Army Air Corps. He was shipped to Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Richmond, Indiana for his induction into the army and did his basic training at Jefferson Barrack, Missouri. During this time, he tested and qualified for additional training where he was assigned to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia for heavy equipment instruction. He graduated and was shipped to Eglin army-air base in Pensacola, Florida where he would meet up with "Tuskegee Airmen," and form the 99th Pursuit Squadron. The 99th fought with distinction in the Mediterranean Theater Operations, and later joined three newer Tuskegee squadrons to form the 332nd Fighter Group. With the 332 nd he was a heavy equipment operator, and they made runways throughout Italy. At that time, it was a totally segregated army, and the black pilots were not allowed to land on the white portion of the American base. Charles was a part of the 332 nd ground crew for the Airmen, a very distinguished position, to make sure the highly flying combat missions and escorting bombers had a safe place to take-off and land. The 332 nd Airmen and their ground crew garnered some of the most envied military records in history, and more importantly advanced the American Civil Rights Movement by setting the precedent that would force the American military to begin to fully integrate in 1948.

On April 27, 1946, Charles married his childhood sweetheart Estella Cromwell Fields and celebrated 56 years of marriage before she was called to glory. Four children were born through this union, Barretta, Charles Jr., Larry and Chirstopher.

He started a career at Timken Roller Bearing Company before going into the armed services and when he came back stateside, he returned to Timken. He played shortstop for the Timken softball team where he broke the color barrier being the first African American to play in the white Industrial Softball League. He held many positions at Timken including head instructor for heavy equipment. He retired after 31 years, one month and one day.

Charles led by example with a life of service through his community, in organizations in his walk with Christ and in the meaningful relationships he built mentoring young men in the neighborhood. He volunteered as a firefighter with Clinton Township Fire Department. Charles was a mason. He was the Scout Master for Troop #294 of the Boy Scouts of America. Charles attended Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday School Teacher and a Deacon. He took his role as a deacon very serious, visiting the sick and shut in, serving communion and other duties requested by the ministry and Pastor for 71 years.

Charles is preceded in death by his siblings William Sr., Vernon Sr., Robert Sr., and Margaret “Sis” Montgomery.

He leaves to cherish his life his baby brother and best friend Carl “Chick” (Jean); Children - Barretta Hardimon, Charles Fields Jr., Larry Fields and Christopher Fields (Lorna); grandchildren Trina (Jeff), Tasha, Lionel, Lance, LaTina (Devin), Darya, Hilari, Tanisha, Whitney; 19 great grandchildren; 7 great great-grandchildren, special daughter Elaine Bosley, special granddaughter D’Andrea Gary (Marlan); a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.