Claude David Fiddler

1932 - 2009

Claude David Fiddler 1932 - 2009 Claude Fiddler was born in Pasadena, California on July 27, 1932 to Claude and Agnes Fiddler. He attended Garvanza Elementary School, Luther Burbank Junior High School and graduated from Franklin High School in 1950. While in high school he was active in track and field, the Order of DeMolay, and the Boy Scouts where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended Occidental College on a Track & Field scholarship where he excelled as a long distance runner and was later inducted into the Occidental College Hall of Fame. He earned a Bachelor Degree in Geology in 1954. In 1958 he earned a Masters Degree in Geology from the California Institute of Technology. Later Claude attended the University of Southern California and in 1967 received a Masters Degree in Petroleum Engineering. He was licensed as both a Geologist and a Petroleum Engineer. Claude joined the Naval Reserve while in High School. After graduation from Occidental College in 1954 he was commissioned into active duty as an Ensign. He deployed with the Seventh Fleet where he saw duty in Korea, Japan and the Formosa Straits. He earned the China Service Ribbon for participation in the Tachen Island evacuation. He was Honorably Discharged from active duty in 1956 with a rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. Claude remained active in the Navy through the Naval Reserve. When he retired from the Navy in 1992 he had attained the rank of Commander. Claude married Shirley Ann Wilson on May 20, 1955. In 1958 Claude began a 32 year career with Chevron, during which the Fiddlers lived in La Habra, Palo Alto, Taft, Walnut Creek, Perth-Western Australia, Bakersfield and New Orleans; and they were able to visit exotic locations such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Madagascar, Johannesburg and Paris. With Chevron, Claude also traveled to South America and the Middle East. When he retired from Chevron in 1990 he was the Manager of Drilling and Production for the Gulf of Mexico. During this time he was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Scottish Rite, Chapter Dad for the La Habra Chapter of the Order of DeMolay, and a lecturer at the USC Petroleum Engineering Graduate School. Claude and Shirley moved back to Bakersfield after his retirement from Chevron. Claude was very active after retirement. He did consulting work in the oil industry, served on the Kern County Grand Jury and the Kern County Employee Retirement Association, served on the California Board for Geologists & Geophysicists, along with numerous other Boards and Committees. He was Rotary Club President in 1999 - 2000. Claude's belief of self-improvement and service to others was the foundation of his philanthropy. He established the Fiddler Family Trust for Charity. The Golden Empire Gleaners, Boy Scouts of America, the Arthritis Association, Bakersfield Museum of Art, Valley Public Radio, the Adult literacy Council, Cal State Bakersfield, Taft College, Occidental College and the Bakersfield Music Theater are just a few of the charities and organizations that he not only gave financial support, but much of his time. Through all this activity, Claude always put family first. Claude enjoyed playing golf, old movies, military history, telling navy stories, taking people on tours of the oil fields and most of all spending time with family and friends. He had a great sense of humor and always had an anecdote or story to tell. He is preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Shirley Fiddler; his parents, Claude and Agnes Fiddler; and his brother, Craig Fiddler. He is survived by, and will be greatly missed by his two children, David W. Fiddler and Linda A Fiddler, their spouses Laura Fiddler and James Ross; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Ross, Sarah Ross, Katherine Fiddler, and Kimberly Fiddler; many other family members; and his two spoiled pets, Cleo the Cat and Sugar the Dog. Instead of flowers Claude would have wanted donations made in his name to the Golden Empire Gleaners. The service will be held at Greenlawn Mortuary on Thursday, January 28, at 2:00 p.m. A toast above the Kern River Oil field will take place on the bluffs at River Blvd. and Panorama Drive following the service. He was one of the few that thought the view from the bluffs was better during the day. Greenlawn Mortuary