John O. Shields, 54, 632 Madison Ave., Meadville, formerly of Erie, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1997, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

He was born in Sykesville, Jefferson County, April 15, 1942, son of Elizabeth Enright Shields of Meadville and the late Owen W. Shields.

A 1960 graduate of Academy High School in Erie, Mr. Shields graduated from Edinboro State College with a bachelor of science degree in art education in 1971; recently studied advanced video and multimedia development at the Kerr Adult Skills Center in Titusville; worked at Wesbury United Methodist Community in Meadville as a graphics specialist for 14 years; served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam war from 1962-68; was a former Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 227 at Stone United Methodist Church in Meadville and had been a member of the district Scouting committee, the Order of the Arrow and the John Brown Heritage Association; belonged to Stone United Methodist Church; was a licensed United Methodist lay minister; recently returned from a mission trip to Zaire; and served on local, district and Western Pennsylvania conference church committees.

Preceding him in death was a brother, Robert E. Shields. Survivors include his wife, Eileen Briggs Shields, whom he married on Nov. 24, 1962; three sons, John O. Shields Jr. and Robert E. Shields II, both of Meadville, and James M. Shields of Linesville, Crawford County; two sisters, Mary Jasper of Birmingham, Ala., and Ruth Morgan of Wolfeboro, N.H.; a brother, William Shields of Meadville; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville, Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and may attend a service at Stone United Methodist Church, 956 S. Main St., Meadville, Sunday at 2 p.m. The Rev. Paul R. Borneman Jr., pastor of the church, will officiate. Burial will be at Greendale Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the John Shields Memorial Fund at Stone United Methodist Church.