Mr. Joe D. Fields, age 90, passed away on April 10, 2017. He was a 1943 graduate of Benton High School. Following high school graduation, he was employed by TVA at Kentucky Dam prior to enlisting in the US Navy where he served in the Pacific War during WW II. Upon his discharge from the Navy, he attended Murray State Teachers College and then returned to work for TVA. He completed his years of government service with the US Postal service, serving as rural carrier until his retirement. After his civil service retirement, he was employed by the KY Workforce Development Cabinet. He also served on the Marshall County School Board as Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Member. Upon retirement from the KY Workforce Cabinet and at the time of his death, he resided in Hermitage, TN, to be near his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Joe was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ.
During his Navy career, the Philippine Government awarded him the Philippine Liberation Medal and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for his participation in the Liberation of the Philippine Islands from the Empire of Japan. During the Okinawa campaign, he received commendations on two separate occasions from his Commanding Officer and from the Pacific Fleet Rear Admiral I.N. Kiland for heroic
actions during air attacks for boarding ships that had been struck by Japanese suicide planes, recovering bodies, evacuating the wounded survivors, and extinguishing fires. He remained active in veterans’ affairs during the remainder of his life. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the National Landing Ships’ Association. He was a founding member of the Museum of the Pacific War, a charter member of the WW II Museum in New Orleans, LA, and a member of the Navy Memorial and the WW II Memorial in Washington, DC.
He is survived by wife of 65 years, Barbara (Owen) Fields of Hermitage, TN; daughters Rebekah Fields Hall of Hermitage, TN, Julia Fields Tidwell (Stan) of Old Hickory, TN, and Teresa Fields Neal (Roy) of Mt. Juliet, TN; six grandchildren; two great grandchildren; sisters Mary Lou LeVan of Benton, KY and Laura McDougal of Hendersonville, TN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Julius Marvin Fields, and Willie Mae (Algood) Fields; brothers, Marvin, Robert “Bob” and William Fields; and sister, Dorothy Fields Colson.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2017 in the Chapel of the Collier Funeral Home with Gary Knuckles and Mike Fields officiating. Burial with military rites will follow at Provine Cemetery.
Visitation will be held between the hours of 11:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Collier Funeral Home, Benton, KY.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Briensburg Church of Christ, 2349 Benton-Briensburg Road, Benton, KY 42025 or the Provine Cemetery Fund, c/o Eldon Wade, P.O. Box 492, Benton, KY 42025