John Dwain Shields, 78, of Johns Island, South Carolina, passed away August 17th in the presence of his loving wife and daughter. He was born May 24, 1941 in Townsend, Tennessee, son of the late Perry Abbott Shields and Eva Cobb Shields.
John served 21 years with the United States Navy achieving rank as Senior Chief Petty Officer. He joined the navy in 1960. Throughout his military career he served on nuclear submarines, was a diver for the Navy, a Master Tugboat Captain in charge of a torpedo retriever, and a respected professor of Naval Science at The Citadel. He also ran a successful auto business for many years with his wife, Linda, and was a commercial real estate agent with Read and Read Real Estate. He was a Mason, a Scottish Rite Mason, a Shriner, a Past Director of the Ragtops (where he enjoyed driving his Eldorado convertible in the parades to raise money for the Shriners Hospital for Children), and a Past Director of the Royal Order of Jesters.
He was a master Coast Guard captain and entertained friends and family on his boat, The Gypsy, for many years. In his later years, he loved watching the golf channel and hanging out with the beloved family golden retrievers, Lacey, Bailey and Cooper.John is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert Perry Shields.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Linda Peterson Shields; daughter, Vicky Shields; brother Charles Richard; brother Michael Dean; sister Edith Shields Abbott; and many nieces, nephews, friends and other family members. Private graveside services will be handled by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. West Ashley Chapel , 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC, 29605 or to the American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202.