Obituary for Gerald Nield

Gerald Nield

January 11, 1932 – June 27, 2022

Gerald Lee Nield, 90, of Ponca City, OK, passed away Monday, June 27, 2022. Visitation for Gerald is Friday, July 8th, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with family present from 5:00 -7:00 PM at Trout Funeral Home & Crematory. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 9, at 10:00 AM at the First Christian Church, 210 N. 10th Street with Rev. Stephen Johnson officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Funeral arrangements under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK, 74601.

Gerald was the only child of Noel and Barbara Nield and was born January 11, 1932, in Enid, OK. His father, a British WWI veteran, immigrated to the United States from Cheshire, England in 1920. Gerald was a very precocious child and wanted to go to school before he was old enough. His parents paid a teacher twenty-five cents a week to tutor him before he could enter public school. Gerald graduated from Phillips University in Enid in 1953, with degrees in Chemistry, Physics and Math. He went to work for Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, in the Petroleum Products Division of the Research and Development Department. During his long and distinguished career with Conoco, Inc., he worked in the Analytical Research Group of the Research and Development with responsibility for developing new Conoco standards. He was manager of the Conostan Products Division, which provided analytical solutions for both the U.S. Military and the petroleum industry. Gerald was credited with numerous patents. Gerald was honored by Conoco, Inc in 1988 for a special Tenth Patent Award Recognition.

Gerald met Mary Lois Frost of Tonkawa, OK, and they were married in 1958. Gerald learned to fly and co-owned a twin-engine plane with his friend, Don Coffelt. Gerald was a devoted and long-time member of the First Christian church of Ponca City. He was very active in the Ponca City Lions Club. He was especially proud of the Lions Child Sight Program which tested eyes in children 6 months to 4 years. Involvement in community projects was important to Gerald. For many years he was active in the Marland Mansion Estate Commission and the Marland Mansion Foundation Board, of which he was bestowed the honor of Emeritus of the Board. He gave considerable time to the Ponca City Salvation Army, the Ponca City Child Development Center and the Marland Children’s Home of Ponca City. His generosity has benefited many charitable organizations.

Gerald was very compassionate to his family. He was so kind in caring for his wife before her death in 2009. When Mary Lois’ mother had a stroke, Gerald and Mary Lois moved in with her until she was able to care for herself. He was very helpful to Mary’s sister, Connie Pitts, when her husband died. Gerald was a United States Army veteran, having served in the Korean War. He was stationed in Maryland and assigned to a chemical research unit.

Gerald’s surviving family are his wife’s sister, Ruth Ann (Frost) Webb of Houston, TX; her niece, Marianne Sala; her nephews, Mark Sala, Scott Pitts, Jeff (wife MaryEllen) Pitts and Greg Pitts. Also Jeff’s children, Kelsey and Grayson and Greg’s children, Adriana and Tyler (wife Ashley).

God’s words speak for Gerald; “Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5

Source: Trout Funeral Home