Gladys Fielding Chambers

Gladys Fielding Chambers, age 95, passed away the morning of Monday, May 22, 2017, peacefully in her bed as she slept within the beams of morning sunlight. Gladys lived an amazing life full of adventure, love, travel, and teaching. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Gladys, the daughter of Ernest and Ann Fielding, married Lee Chambers in her twenties and moved to Shadow Hills, a quaint suburb of Los Angeles, shortly after her marriage. She became a school teacher focusing on the subject of mathematics, took a leave of absence to raise three boys, and later, after earning her Master’s degree and administrative credential, became a vice principal in the Los Angeles Unified School District. After retirement she traveled many places around the world and later on relocated with her husband to Los Osos, California in 1978. Though she held a reputation as a strict educator, Gladys had a wonderful sense of humor with a strong wit that did not falter her entire life. A sparkle in her eye, her sharp sense of humor was ever present through dinner conversations and family gatherings. She was blessed with a lifelong nucleus of very close friends, too numerous to mention. In her early years Gladys, along with her husband Lee, helped found and grow the Shadow Hills Presbyterian church. The church Mariners group was launched and many of her lifelong friends came from that very group of devout and fun loving individuals. The friendships that blossomed were everlasting throughout her entire life. Other networks of lifelong friends were rooted in Lee’s work associates at Lockheed and Gladys’ education partners. She loved meals with her loved ones and friends, sharing stories and jokes, playing bridge with her closest friends on a regular basis, potluck pool dinners, dancing, hosting many parties at home, traveling, watching spectator sports, especially football and golf, and fishing for halibut or anything else she could catch with a line. She visited St. Augustine Florida with her son Bruce and his family, Wanda and Kristin, back in 1998 and they purchased an ocean front condo together, where she could enjoy her many trips to St. Augustine with toes in the sand and gazing at the wonders of the ocean and the amazing sunrises. She later became a six month resident of St. Augustine, sharing her time with her beautiful home back in Los Osos, California, where she too had a pristine view of the Pacific Ocean and lush green valleys. In her later years she decided to move to St. Augustine permanently to be by Bruce, Wanda and Kristin. She took up residence in a senior living community at the age of 85 and always said “these people here are too old for me”, a testimony to her youthful outlook and love of life. She became active in bridge and bingo groups, as well as forming a regular poker group, and was always flush with funny money. Trivia pursuit, with another close group of St. Augustine friends and family, was a regular Friday night out event. She is survived by her three sons, Randy Chambers, Guy Chambers, and Bruce Chambers, daughters in law Wanda Chambers and Barbara Chambers, grandchildren and spouses Scott and Parrisa, Alison and Jory, Greg and Tracy, Michael and Cindy, Brian and Becky, as well as Kristin, Colby, and Kyle, She was also blessed with ten great-grandchildren, Cayden and Kayla, Parker and Bosley, Zachary and Cody, Lucas, Ethan, Piper and Sydney. She has now joined her husband Lee Chambers in the everlasting light of the universe. Gladys will always be loved and remembered in the hearts and minds of family and friends, even acquaintances she only briefly met. She held a positive light that will live through her spirit for centuries to come. She certainly lived life to the fullest and created so many memories for friends and family to share and cherish forever. A celebration of life will be held at the House of Sea and Sun, 2 B Street, St. Augustine, FL from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 9th. In lieu of flowers the family asks anyone who wishes to honor Gladys to make a donation in her name to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida at https://support.communityhospice.com/pages/ch2017/donate-now, or mail to Community Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.