Allan Shields

1919 - 2017

Allan Edwin Shields
July 1919 - August 2017
Allan Edwin Shields passed away on August 14, 2017 of natural causes. He celebrated his 98th birthday in July. He and Catherine Bernice Shields celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary on August 2nd in Fresno.
Allan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, raised in eastern US localities until 1935. His family moved west to Piedmont, California, traveling the newly opened Route 66. He attended Bay Area schools and the University of California, Berkeley, where he and Bernice met.
Following service in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Allan studied at the University of Southern California. He earned a PhD in Philosophy and Experimental Psychology, and was honored with a Phi Beta Kappa membership.
Allan joined the faculty of San Diego State College in 1949 as Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Psychology, becoming Professor of Philosophy in 1959. In 1978 he retired from that position. He and Bernice moved to Mariposa County to enjoy mountain living.
In addition to teaching, he served summers as a seasonal Ranger-Naturalist in Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, with Carl Sharsmith and Will Neeley. Allan and Bernice founded the Jerseydale Ranch Press in Mariposa, California. Allan wrote for local newspapers in Mariposa and Merced, as well as for numerous publications in Yosemite. He was a gifted violinist and an avid horseman.
Allan was preceded in death by his son, Larry Michael Shields. He is survived by his wife Catherine Bernice (nee Clark) Shields, their sons Allan Oakley Shields and Richard Minter Shields; daughter Catherine Marie (nee Shields) Jason; as well as numerous other relatives, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
There will be no public services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Yosemite Conservancy, www.yosemite conservancy.org. Please share your memories at www.AllenMortuary.com.
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