Chester W. Field, Jr., age 66, of Jim Thorpe, PA, passed away on Monday, August 7, 2006 at his residence surrounded by his family. Born on November 25, 1939, in Boothwyn, PA, he was a graduate of Chichester High School. Chester served under Strategic Air Command in the U.S. Air Force working on the KC-97 Stratotanker from 1957 until 1962, when he became a member of the Delaware Air National Guard. In New Castle, he served as a crew chief and performed duties as a flight engineer on the C-97 Stratofreighter and C-130A Hercules. Between 1975 and 1990, Chester transitioned from basic flight engineer to instructor and flight examiner until becoming the flight engineer superintendent, when he led his section in OPERATION DESERT STORM flying the C-130H2. He amassed over 10,000 hours of flying time before retiring from the Guard in 1998. Among his brother airmen, he is best remembered for his sense of humor and quality of character as well as his dedication to quality training and laying the cornerstone of a long and proud safety heritage within the unit. His hobbies included traveling, woodworking, and fishing. A beloved father and grandfather, Chester will be deeply missed but never forgotten. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Margaret Field, and children, John Eric and Karen Field and Angela and Thomas Brown; his mother, Ethel Field; his sisters, Christine Zinszer and Ethel Hamilton; and eight grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 11th at 11:30 AM at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Roosevelt Avenue and Dupont Parkway, New Castle, where friends are invited to call after 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, DE. Memorial contributions may be made to The Foundation for Melanoma Research, 3601 Spruce Street, Room 489, Philadelphia, PA 19104 by mail or online at http://www.foundationformelanomaresearch.org/help.php or by calling (215) 898-3959. www.mealeyfuneralhomes.com

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