Harry Noble Fields, 77, son of Harvey and Clara Morgan Fields, was born July 11, 1930, at Alton, Ill. He died Feb. 14, 2008, at Missouri Veterans Home at Mount Vernon.
He graduated in 1948 from Roxana Community High School in Illinois, attended the Missouri School of Mines at Rolla and graduated from the University of Maryland in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree. He obtained his specialist degree in education in 1979 from Pittsburg State University.
He entered the U.S. Air Force Aug. 15, 1950, and received his commission Dec. 23, 1953. His most notable achievements as a navigator were to fly 107 combat missions in southeast Asia, to be known as the “typhoon chaser” throughout the Pacific and be directly responsible for mapping the northern most part of Alaska.
Among the honors he received was the Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired as a lieutenant colonel Nov. 1, 1972.
After his retirement, he taught Air Force Junior ROTC at Nevada, Mo., high school.
He and his wife, Shirley, moved in 1985 to their farm at Yukon.
He became a member of the Ozark Baptist Church and was active in the Gideons, speaking in churches across Texas County.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Shirley Story; and a granddaughter.
Surviving are his wife of Mount Vernon; one son, Bobby “Biff” Gentry Jr.; daughters, Susan Kellogg, Cindy Compton, Nancy Frerer, Sara Denning and Sally Arteaga; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services were Feb. 19 at the Ozark Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Jetton officiating. Burial was in the Ozark Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Gideons Memorial Bible Program.
