John Fielding, Sr., passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, March 12, 2018, at the age of 84.

John Thomas Fielding was born in Pomona, Calif. on Sept. 12, 1933. He grew up in Oregon, near the Mackenzie River.

John joined the Navy in 1951 and served for 22 years.

He served as a corpsmen and a food service officer, with his last assignment at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

John retired from the Navy in 1973, the same year he bought an 1865 farmhouse in Coupeville, on Ebey’s Prairie. Retirement for John included many activities.

He took college courses and studied art under Tony Turpin. He became an accomplished watercolor artist and painted and sold several hundred paintings, primarily focused on the barns and prairie scenery of Ebey’s Reserve.

John assisted and coached track and cross country at Coupeville High School where his son Jeff was a leader in the sport.

John volunteered as a firefighter in Central Whidbey, and became an EMT. He was very involved in helping to train high school firefighters.

John enjoyed fishing and boating, and graduated from an 11-foot Boston Whaler to a 18-foot Montauk he bought himself for his 50th birthday, to a Tiderunner he moored in Oak Harbor. He also built a wooden boat.

John is survived by his children: John Fielding, Jr. and wife Anne of Oak Harbor, James Fielding of Texas, Janet Grabke of Ohio and Jeff Fielding of Oregon, as well as several grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his youngest son, Justin.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 24 at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville. John will be laid to rest overlooking the prairie where he lived the last 45 years.