Raymond Leslie Fields

Age 86, passed away on July 30, 2005 after a courageous battle with cancer, in the Bath VA Medical Center, Bath, NY.He is survived by his wife, Pauline Carr Fields of Elmira, NY; daughter and son-in-law, Shirley & David Kelly of Vestal, NY; son and daughter-in-law, James and Nancy Fields of Apalachin, NY; daughter and son-in-law, Janice & Tom Mitteer of Johnson City, NY; sons, Roy Fields of Baltimore, MD, Joseph Fields of Endicott, NY; step-daughter, Joyce Fiore of Elmira, NY; sister, Sylvia Buckland of Vestal, NY; several grandchildren and great grandchildren.Raymond served in the Army during WWII achieving the rank of Sergeant.He worked as a mechanic for many years at Shafer?s Garage in Johnson City, NY.He then owned and operated Ray?s Garage in Endicott & Johnson City.Ray was retired from business and idle only a short time before going to work for American LaFrance in Elmira building fire trucks and delivering them all over the country.In recent years, he worked for Koch Chrysler-Dodge, Clute & Ferrario Ford as a courtesy driver and parts delivery.Ray enjoyed auto racing.He built and raced stock cars at local tracks earlier in his career, and later in life enjoyed NASCAR racing.He enjoyed boating and spent a number of years motoring around Cayuga Lake.Ray was a member of the American Legion Harry B. Bentley Post #0443, VFW of Johnson City #2332, Elks, and a lifetime member since 1940, of the Loyal Order of Moose #426.He held many positions in the Moose leading to the honorific Pilgrim Degree of Merit. Ray had many friends in the community and his fraternal clubs.He was appreciated and loved by everyone he encountered.He will be missed by all.Family and friends are invited to call at Olthof Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 Pennsylvania Ave., Elmira on Monday, August 1, 2005 from 2 to 4 PM & 7 to 9 PM with funeral held there on Tuesday at 11:00 AM; followed by committal in Forest Lawn Memorial Park with full Military Honors. A Memorial Pilgrim Service will be conducted Monday evening at 8:00 PM. Those wishing may leave a ?Candle of Remembrance? for the family in Obituaries at www.olthof.com .