OLDFIELD WILLIAM B

CPT William "Barney" B. Oldfield was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 01/27/2014 at the age of 67.6
South Bend, IN
Date of Birth 07/09/1946
Served in the U.S. Marine Corps
This information was provided by Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: July 9, 1946 - Jan. 27, 2014 SOUTH BEND - Barney was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and grew up on a cattle ranch on the Osage Indian Reservation in north central Oklahoma. Shortly after high school, he was drafted but opted to join the Marine Corps. After completing officer's school and earning his college degree, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and ordered to the Navy Flight School. Upon graduation he was designated a pilot in the CH-53 Sikorsky helicopter. Over the next 22 years he was able to participate in many exciting, challenging missions and travel to many parts of the world including S.E. Asia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Norway, Africa and the Middle East. After his retirement from the Marine Corps, he met the love of his life, Gwen Finger, a native of South Bend. They married and moved to Jackson Hole, WY, where Barney was elected twice to be the Mayor of Jackson Hole. Barney's parents, Frances and W. Baird Oldfield, his brother, Lee Oldfield, and his father-in-law, Tuggy Finger, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Gwen; brother, Ladd (Sue) Oldfield; sister, Amy (Wayne Ray Mitchell) Oldfield; sister-in-law, Robbie Oldfield; mother-in-law, Deloris Finger; brother-in-law, Gary (Malia) Finger; nieces and nephews, Sarah (Grant) Myers, Will Oldfield, Clara Cunningham, Jennifer (Kyle) Allen and Zane Finger; also great-nieces and nephews, Ryan, Allyssa, Emmett, Hailey, Whitney, Ashton and Emma. Barney and Gwen moved to South Bend after Barney completed his second term as Mayor. Barney always said this was the best place he had ever lived and it's because of the great friendships he made with family, neighbors and friends. His philosophy on life is: "The more friendships you can develop, the more places you can go and the more adventures you can have, the richer and fuller your life will be." Barney lived a rich, full life. There will be visitation with friends and family at Kaniewski's Funeral Home, 3545 Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, from 10 AM until noon. At noon there will be a service. Private burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice . To send condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com

Published in South Bend Tribune on Jan. 30, 2014

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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