Gary Wayne Fielden was born March 17, 1950 in Wagoner, OK to Bonnie A. and Naomi (Cobb) Fielden, one of 8 brothers. He grew up getting into lots of mischief with his brothers, growing up in Hulbert and graduating from Hulbert High School in 1968. In 1970, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and multiple awards for sharp shooting. After sustaining injuries, he was honorably retired in 1971.
He met his sweetheart, Karen Ruth Glover, through his cousin, Benny Cobb, in 1968, and they were married in June of 1970. They made a home first in Claremore, where they raised two sons, then later moved to Collinsville.
Gary worked in construction at Flintco for 41 years, hired by his brother Doc. Working first as a laborer, then training as a carpenter, Gary eventually moved through the trades to Superintendent, working on and overseeing many large projects in Tulsa over the years, including many projects at Hillcrest (including the Women’s Health Center), the BOK Center, and the renovation of First Presbyterian Church. He loved working, especially with teams on project jobsites, and seeing a project through to the end, safely. Site safety was very important to him. His construction work included building both of their homes, with the help of family and friends.
He also loved to spend time with Karen and the boys, riding horses, skiing at the lake, quail hunting with all of his birddogs named “Joe”, fishing with his brothers and sons, calf roping, team pinning, antiquing with Karen, golfing, and flying RC airplanes. Once the boys were grown, Gary and Karen traveled when they could, seeing as much of the country as possible.
Gary loved his work and his family life, and loved getting out and about, whether it was traveling, or just running up to Atwoods or Lowes. If you found yourself out with him, very often someone would recognize him and come up to say hi, wanting to chat.
When his granddaughters were born, he and Karen devoted many hours to them, and he was up for anything they wanted to do, whether it was playing with dolls, cooking breakfast, or running around outside, playing games. Whatever it was, he just loved spending time with them, always making time to attend any activities they were in at school.
He is survived by his wife Karen, his beloved children, John Gary and wife Kelli, and David Dean, his beautiful, loving granddaughters, Catelyn Irene and husband Colt Brandow, and Naomi Ruth; his big brother Don, his much loved sister-in-law Dianna and incredible husband Juan Delgado, nephew Richard Delgado, and many other nieces and nephews, family members, friends and loved ones. He was preceded in death by his father Bonnie Fielden Sr., mother Naomi (Cobb) Fielden, his children, Joseph Wayne and Anna Ruth, and brothers, Howard, Steve, William, Charles, Dale, Doc (Bonnie Jr), and nephew Stevie Fielden.
The service will be held Friday at 1pm, with visitation from 12 to 1 (at Mowery Chapel in Owasso). Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery after the service. Pallbearers will be John Fielden, David Fielden, Donnie Fielden, Roger Fielden, Juan Delgado, Richard Delgado. Honorary Pallbearer: Colt Brandow.
