Leona Lee Fields

life story

Leona Lee Fields died peacefully at age 96 on September 11, 2024, in St. Paul, MN, near her daughter and caregiver, Kimberly Werner. Lee was known for her love of learning, iconic laughter, and dedication to her students with learning disabilities, whom she taught for 20 years in suburban Harrisburg, PA.

Lee is survived by daughters Deborah Warden, MD (Neal Epstein, MD) and Kimberly Werner, Pharm D; six grandchildren: Max Epstein (Boer Deng), Daniel Epstein (Lily), Michael Werner, Lee Werner, Alexis Warden Edmonson, PA (Sean), and Kyle Warden; one great-granddaughter, Kaia Deng-Epstein; nieces and nephews; and their children. She is also survived by a stepdaughter, Alice Anne Schwab; two step-grandchildren, Anna Novak and Catherine (Edward) Allgood; and a step-great-granddaughter, Josephine Allgood. Her beloved husband, Joseph Fields; her son, John B. Warden III; her siblings, Randolph Wood, Virginia Wood Drummond, and Eldon Wood; three nieces; and a nephew predeceased her.

Lee was born on April 22, 1928, the youngest of four children to the late Inez (Watson) and Fred Lee Wood. After her father’s untimely death, Lee and her brother Eldon went to live in the Masonic Home in LaGrange, IL, so their mother could work. Although she was only three at the time, Lee always emphasized how well cared for they were, especially during the Depression. Still, she longed to walk the streets of LaGrange like anyone else rather than in the straight line of “Home” children; she would occasionally slip under the chain-link fence, tearing her dress on the fence, to walk alone in the town. The fact that she was invariably returned to the Home did not dampen her spirits for her next walk.

She returned to live with her mother in Ft. Wayne, IN, for high school. She won a partial scholarship to Indiana University and washed dishes in her sorority house. She recalled wondering if she would have to drop out for lack of funds, and then an envelope would arrive in the mail with $25. Somehow, that was enough to keep her going. Through a service project with the YMCA, she met Jack Warden. After graduation, they married and moved to his home in Harrisburg, PA. She raised three children and, while in the Junior League, served as VP and participated in many service projects. She volunteered part-time at the state hospital on a brain injury rehabilitation ward as a Speech Therapist, always making sure to be home when her children returned from school.

She pursued graduate work in learning disabilities at the University of Delaware and Northwestern University, studying under Professor Helmer Myklebust. She found her calling and taught children with learning disabilities until her retirement.

Her marriage to John B. Warden, Jr., ended in divorce, as did her marriage to John J. Schwab. After her retirement, her high school sweetheart found her, and they rekindled their relationship. They married in 2003 and lived in Englewood, FL, where they spent many happy and loving years.

One day, she quietly slipped away from their Englewood community to the Obama HQ to work the phone banks. With a cherished few of her neighbors she became (albeit a quiet) part of the Democratic block in Florida.

Lee delighted in life’s simple pleasures—rising very early to buy special sugar donuts to be home by her children’s breakfast on Maundy Thursday, arriving at her Maryland grandchildren’s home with a strawberry-rhubarb pie, and knitting sweaters for her grandchildren. She loved the Chesapeake Bay, Bermuda, and living in Florida. Chopped chicken livers and anything with rhubarb were special treats. Her corn pudding was on the table at every holiday dinner. Lee was the family’s grammar authority; she loved reading her daily NY Times. She treasured attending symphony concerts throughout her life, and especially with her daughter Kimberly. She loved her family and friends dearly.

She had the distinction of being both a dog person—with a beloved mutt when raising her children and later showing Doberman Pinschers with Jack Schwab; and a cat person—with her rescue cats, Jasper, and then Tiger Lily, who slept at the foot of her bed in assisted living.

Lee used to comment that she shared her birthday week with Queen Elizabeth II (April 20) and Shirley Temple (April 23.) Yet another reason to laugh at life’s gifts!

A long life well-lived and well-loved.

As she wished, Lee was cremated. If desired, a memorial contribution may be made to Planned Parenthood or the Indiana University General Scholarship fund.

memorial service

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services