Harold S. Field

Harold S. Field, at the age of 95, passed away peacefully on December 14th’ 2022 in hospice at C.C. Young in Dallas, Texas. Harold was born February 15th, 1927, in
High Point, North Carolina, to Anna and George Field. He grew up during the depression and had to learn to be self-sufficient, helping to support his family at a
very young age. He attended high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but at age 16 he left high school to enlist in the Navy during WWII. Because of his exceptional test
scores, he was selected to be a radar operator on a battleship. He served on the USS Mississippi as part of the Annapolis Fleet in the Pacific Theatre.
At the end of the war, he was discharged from the Navy at Bremerton Naval Base in Washington State. Always independent and resourceful, he chose to build a Model A Ford from salvage parts and drive it home rather than wait for transportation arranged by the Navy. During his trek home, he visited Yellowstone National Park (while it was closed) as well as other sites in the west and mid-west. Using his GI Bill, he attended Oklahoma A&M, (now Oklahoma State University). Because the college had a housing shortage due to the number of returning G.I.’s, he lived in a tent city near the campus for about two years while pursuing his degree. Interestingly, he described his time in the tent city as “idyllic” because of the relationships formed with other G.I.s as well as the freedom to hunt and fish for his food. He excelled in college, graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering. Harold then began what was to become an impressive career in the oil and gas industry. He demonstrated outstanding technical skills as an engineer, as well as excellent leadership and executive skills. After college he went to work for Amerada Corporation as an engineer in their Geophysical Research Lab. He went on to become the president of that lab. He was credited with several patents during his tenure there and his daughters had the thrill of seeing his patents on display at the Smithsonian Museum during a vacation to Washington D.C.

Harold’s career took him and his family to Pampa and Houston Texas when he went to work for Cabot Corporation. After a short stint in West Virginia (and with the children all grown), he and June moved to Amarillo Texas to finish his career with Cabot. In Amarillo, after retirement at age 60, he was able to pursue his love of flying full-time. He and some flying buddies founded Blue Sky Airfield, a private airport near Amarillo. He built the first hangar but soon the airport grew to about 17 hangars and two irrigated grass runways to house his many friends’ and partners’ antique and hobby planes. Because of his love of flying, he restored many antique airplanes, including a 1930 Fleet Bi-Wing which won many awards, including the Grand Champion at Oshkosh Fly-In and Convention. He retained his pilot’s license until the age of 90, as well as his accreditation of a FAA Inspector.

Harold married June Marilyn Goldsmith in 1952. They made their home in their beloved Tulsa for 22 years before his career took them to Texas. They were excited to have a big family and soon their family grew to five children. Family life was interesting at the Field house. There was never a lack of activity and adventure, from weekends at “The Farm”, to cross country road trips, to the constant parade of kids through the unlocked back door. Both June and Harold loved the house being the center of the neighborhood. The Field children had the freedom to roam the neighborhood, ride their bikes, walk to school, traipse through the woods and be independent. Harold and June made a beautiful life for their children and were married for 62 years until her death in 2014.

Harold will be remembered most for his brilliant mind, his relentless tenacity, his passion for education, his service to his country, his fondness for the outdoors, his commitment to excellence in all he did, his infectious smile and blue eyes, his devotion to his friends and his deep love of family.

He is survived by his 5 children, Shelley Whittington and her husband Marcus, Sally Field and her husband Jerry Carlton, Sandy Miller and her husband Denny, Jeff Field and his wife Jill, Rex Field and his wife Tracy. His is survived by his grandchildren, Anna Thompson, Ryan Field, Stephen Field, Nick Field, Jenna, Jordan, Jake Field, Elizabeth Kinnerup, Joey Jordan, Jac Carlton, Ben Field, Kathleen Field and Jonathan Field. He also survived by 6 great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his brother Bob Field, his sister Joan Glivar, and his grandson Jeff Jordan.

Per Harold’s request, his and June’s ashes will be scattered by plane over West Texas.

In lieu of a formal service, flowers or other remembrances, donations can be made in memory of Harold S. Field to the OSU College of Engineering.