Feb. 11, 1993 – Sept. 16, 2018

Matthew Lance Fielding passed away on Sept. 16 at the age of 25. He was born in Burbank and attended St. James the Less Elementary School, Rosemont Middle School and Crescenta Valley High.

Matt’s first job was helping his father, Lance, at Gene & Eddie’s Kustom Hot Rod Shop. It’s there that Matt developed a strong bond with his father and an incredible sense of detail, pride, patience and mechanical knowledge. He became a master craftsman in classic car, hot rod and motorcycle restoration.

Matt joined the Navy in 2011 and was stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoor, California, followed by Point Mugu. There he was a team member to the world famous VAW113 Black Eagles Squadron. He was able to participate in Rimpac 2014, a multi-nation military exercise in the Pacific Ocean and was proud to be stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.

Before and after the Navy, Matt worked tirelessly for Burbank Moto, Bimmer Heads, Fielding Fabrication and Bateman Water Heating. He recently, and with great pride, purchased his first home, a historical stone house built in 1924 in Shadow Hills.

Matthew was preceded in death by his father, Fredrick David Lance Fielding, who died in 2009. He is survived by his loving family including his mother Eileen, sister Kelsey, stepfather Robert, stepmother Erin, grandparents Mumu, Papa, Cami, Lucia and great grandmothers Dorothy and Teiko. He also leaves behind siblings Billy, Kristi, Jonathan, Danielle and Brandon. In addition, Matthew was blessed to have many mentors in his life including Julie Richards and Ken and Melissa Duke.

Matt’s life was too short but he lived it to the fullest. Always smiling, especially when he was in trouble for something, he was charming and happy-go-lucky. His friends nicknamed him “Huck.”

Anyone who hung out with Matt can attest to some kind of shenanigans. He was always pulling pranks on his friends but was never afraid to be the brunt of a joke himself. He valued his friends and family and was willing to help anyone out, even strangers. His passion for life was contagious. Matthew’s motto was “I’d rather be an amateur participant than a professional spectator.”