In Wareham, MA
Robert Henry Fielding, 90, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his four loving daughters after a five year decline due to Alzheimer’s. He was the son of Adolph and Irene (Nelson) Fielding and was born and spent most of his life in Taunton, MA. Bob was a kind, funny, intelligent, and welcoming man. No matter who you were, he was happy to see you and share a funny story and invite you to sit and visit.
From age 12, Bob worked tirelessly in numerous jobs to support his family. He studied mechanical drafting at the Bradford Durfee Technical Institute in Fall River and was hired as a draftsman by Metals and Controls in Attleboro, MA. When he retired over 36 years later at what became Texas Instruments, his position was Senior Mechanical Design Engineer. He designed fixtures to “Life Test” the approximately 100 switches in the first Apollo II mission to the moon. The components are still located on the moon.
He was known as Archie to his childhood buddies and spent many happy times with them at the “Y”. As a teenager he built his own catboat and always loved the ocean. He served in the National Guard, laughing that he was their “deaf radio man.” He built his own home and loved making wooden toys and train sets for his grandchildren. He also loved photography, playing cards and was an avid Red Sox fan. He loved gardening, especially propagating hydrangeas to give to others. Every spring when his tomato plants were still green he would tie a bright orange plastic tomato to one of the vines, just to tease his neighbors.
His family was his greatest treasure and he cherished time together at the “Honeymoon Cottage” in Wareham for a swim, a barbecue, a birthday celebration, or a family visit. He was a man of subtle yet deep faith, praying especially for his family.
Bob is predeceased by his beloved wife of 63 years, Marguerite (Chamberlain) Fielding and his brother Richard. He leaves his four daughters Sharon Thurston of Wareham, Patricia Hardy of Taunton, Jan Sprague and her husband Randy of Bar Harbor, ME and Andrea Kaneb and husband Stephen of Exeter, NH. He also leaves his brother Thomas and wife Terry Fielding of South Sutton, NH and sister-in-law Dianne of Wareham.
Bob also leaves his loving grandchildren Robert Thurston and his wife Jennifer, Andrew Thurston, Matthew Stevenson and fiancée Kerry, Alex Hardy, Amy Sundberg and her husband Soren, Erin Wusterbarth and her husband Andrew, Brendan Sprague, Michael Kaneb and his wife Chelsea, Phillip Kaneb, Jacqueline Kaneb, Kevin Kaneb and his wife Corinne, and Angel Kaneb; and his great grandchildren Caleb, Seraphina, Ava, David and a baby girl due in December. He also leaves stepgrandchildren Jessica Paterson and Robert Hardy III and their families, as well as many cherished nieces, nephews and dear friends.
He and his family have deep appreciation and affection for his many care providers for all their support and tender loving care. Funeral from the O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home, 70 Washington St., Taunton, MA 02780 on Saturday, October 13th at 9am. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Andrew the Apostle Church at 10am. Relatives and friends are also invited to visiting hours on Friday from 6-8pm. Burial in the family lot in St. Francis cemetery in Taunton. Donations in Robert’s memory may be made to the Old Colony YMCA Taunton Branch, 71 Cohannet St., Taunton, MA 02780-3905 or for a memorial gift through the Parkwood Beach Association, C/O Bill Cannon, 2 Ash St. Wareham, MA 02571.