Roberta Crockett Fields

Roberta Crockett Fields 1916-2007 Redondo Beach resident, "Bobbe" Fields, made her transition peacefully on May 26, 2007 just a few weeks after her 91st birthday. She was raised in an elegant Victorian home in Mitchell, South Dakota, the youngest of the five daughters of William Otis Crockett and Myrtle Adams Crockett. She graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University and came to Long Beach during WWII. After doing her patriotic stint at Douglas Aircraft, she became an elementary school teacher. Most of her 30 years of teaching was for the Hermosa Beach School District where she touched the lives of thousands of students. She was able to enrich her teaching by her love of travel; bringing her experiences, mementos and photos to her classrooms. While studying for her M.A. at USC she met her late husband, Earl Fields. Having no children of her own, Bobbe was particularly good to her sister, LuVerne Peterson Garland's children: Craig Peterson and Marylou Peterson Dunn. Bobbe sang on stage in early productions of the Long Beach Civic Light Opera and had a lifelong love for music and musical theatre. Up until her final months, she looked forward to the performances of Musical Theatre West viewed from her wheelchair. Known for her elegant style and refined demeanor, she also was an avid reader, gourmet cook and movie-goer. The last movie rented for her was, "The Queen" which she loved. She always looked forward to watching PGA tournaments, especial ly when Tiger Woods was playing. She originated a Craft Group, which made many artistic items to sell to benefit her church. In addition to Marylou and Craig she is survived by niece, Carol Wenzel Graybill of Port Townsend, WA and many great nieces and nephews. A Celebration of her Life will be held at the Redondo Beach Church of Religious Science, 907 Knob Hill, Redondo Beach at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 4, 2007. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the church or Musical Theatre West in her memory. Sh e will be missed by all of us who loved her. She never complained about her agonizing pain from kidney disease. Bobbe, you were a "class act"