RAYMOND — Gertrude Fielding, who was a bookkeeper for Fielding’s Service Station in Scarborough and had a passion for flying, died on Monday. She was 87.

She and her husband, William Fielding, operated the popular service station on Route 1 for nearly 40 years. She was his bookkeeper and often ran errands to pick up parts.

Her daughter, Linda Dutremble of Raymond, said Tuesday that her mother enjoyed helping to run the family business.

“She liked helping him,” she said. “She had a part in the business. I don’t ever remember her complaining.”

Mrs. Fielding grew up in Scarborough and attended schools in town. She was married to William Fielding for 59 years and raised four children. He died in 2003.

Dutremble said her parents had a great life together.

“They were very happy,” she said. “I never saw them have an argument. They were soul mates.”

Mrs. Fielding was remembered by her children Tuesday as a great mother who supported and encouraged them.

Dutremble said that when she was growing up, her friends gravitated toward her mother. She said many of them called her Nana.

“She was perfect,” she said. “She did it all.”

Her son, Perry Fielding of Scarborough, said he had a close relationship with his mother. He said she was very active in his family, and supportive with his children.

“It’s a great loss to us. We’re sad, but happy knowing she is with Dad,” he said. “I’ll miss her guidance. She was my sounding board. There are so many things we will miss about her.”

Mrs. Fielding was an active member of Black Point Congregational Church in Scarborough, and was involved in the women’s group of the Scarborough Lions Club.

She and her husband retired in the early 1980s and renovated a summer cottage on Panther Pond in Raymond into their year-round home.

Dutremble said her mother loved her home on the lake and enjoyed sitting on her porch to watch her grandchildren swim and water-ski.

Dutremble said her father had a passion for flying and kept his float plane at the home on Panther Pond. Mrs. Fielding never got a pilot’s license, but she was his co-pilot and took advantage of every opportunity to fly with him.

She enjoyed monitoring radio communications for the Panther Pond Sea Plane Base. Her son said she communicated with pilots who landed on the lake.

“She loved to fly in the back seat with Dad for sunset rides,” he said. “She loved the beauty of the lake, and being able to see the cottages and the scenery.”

Mrs. Fielding’s health began to fail around Christmas and declined sharply in recent weeks.

“I expected her to rebound, but she didn’t,” her daughter said. “I’ll miss talking to her.”

Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at: mcreamer@pressherald.com

 

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