Charles Earl Fields

Charles E. Fields, 95, of Indianapolis, Indiana passed away August 12, 2020. He was born July 19, 1925 in Carlos, Indiana to Willard and Luella Fields.

At the age of 17, he was called to serve his country. He dutifully served in the United States Navy during WWII from May of 1943 to March of 1946. In which he served on an assignment with the 5^th Marine Division as a hospital corpsman for the invasion of IWO JIMA. As a nation, we are forever grateful for his dedication, service, and faithfulness to our country. Upon his honorable discharge, Charles returned to Lynn High School in Lynn, Indiana where he completed school and was a proud graduate of the Class of 1946. It was a big year for Charles, he also married the love of his life, Mary “Nell”. The pair spent 74 beautiful years together and remain deeply in love at the time of his passing.

Charles went on to attend Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where he obtained his B.S. in 1949 and his M.S. in 1950. He didn’t stop there though; he returned and earned his Ed.D. in 1965 where his doctoral dissertation was “An Index of Inflation for Salaries of Certified Personnel in the Public Schools of Indiana”. He well utilized his love for education and impacted so many over the course of his career. He was a social studies teacher and guidance counselor for Knox High School in Knox, Indiana (1950-1953); the junior high principal in Knox, Indiana (1953-1956), a high school principal in Winamac, Indiana (1956-1960), a role he also held in Goshen, Indiana (1960-1966). He taught “High School Curriculum” at Indiana University’s South Bend Campus (1965-1966), where he then became Superintendent of Schools in Goshen (1966-1971). He would go on to be Superintendent of Schools in Michigan City, Indiana from 1971-1975. In 1975, he accepted a role as Executive Secretary for Indiana Association of Public-School Superintendents where he dutifully served the community until 1992. Educating and preparing the youth of Indiana was always in his heart not only in the classroom but out of it as well. He served as a counselor for the American Legion Hoosier Boys State (Bloomington, Indiana) while concurrently serving a counselor for the American Legion Boys Nation (Washington, D.C.) from 1955-1957.

He was a member of many organizations and was currently involved in Masonic Lodge (Winchester, Indiana), Indiana University Alumni Association, Indianapolis Civil War Round Table, AARP where he was a dedicated lobbyist, American Association of School Administrators, Phi Delta Kappa, Northern Indiana Superintendents Club, Indiana Retired Teachers Association, and the Indiana Association of Retired Public School Superintendents.

While in Goshen, Indiana he was chairman of the Pastoral-Parish Relations Community with First United Methodist Church (1969-1970), a part of the US Selected Service, Local Board #125, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce – College Cooperation Committee (1969), was on the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club (1967-1971), chairman of the Rotary Foundation Committee (1970-1971), and was the Third Vice President (1969) of the Board of Directors with the Chamber of Commerce in which he served from 1967-1971.

Moving to Michigan City, Indiana didn’t slow down his passion for serving his community. He served in Region I on the Indiana Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (1971-1972), was on the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club (1971-1974), on the Board of Directors for the Junior Achievement of Michigan City (1972-1975), the Steering Committee for the development of the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Training School (1973-1975), part of the Pastoral-Parish Relations Committee with First United Methodist Church (1974-1975), held a seat in the LaPorte County CETA Advisory Council (1974-1975), and was on the Executive Committee for Indiana Public School Study Council until 1975.

Charles completed extensive in-service training over the course of his career. He participated in the Institute for Development of Educational Activities Fellows Program with Amhurst College in July 1968; a member of “High Horizons” Conference sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators at Las Vegas, Nevada  in May 1973; participant in the AASA National Academy for School Executives in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974; and was a recipient of the Professional Development Award presented by the AASA at National Convention in Dallas, Texas in February of 1975.

He also completed extensive service with many professional boards and committees. These roles include Vice President of the junior high section of the Indiana State Teachers Association for the 1954-1955 school year where he then served as President of the organization (1955-1956); was on the executive committee of the Indiana Association of Junior and Senior High School Principals (1961-1966); Vice President of the Indiana Association of Junior and Senior High School Principals (1963-1964), where he served as President (1964-1965); Member of the Indiana Textbook Commission (1968-1974); President of the Hoosier School Study Council in 1969; Chairman of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents’ Policies and Resolutions Committee (1974-1975); member of the Board of Directors of the School of Education with the Indiana University Alumni Association (1973-1975); on the Indiana Tuberculosis Council (1970-1976); as well as a member of the IAPSS Legislative Action Committee in 1975.

With his extensive education, service, and dedication to Indiana’s education system he was the proud recipient of many awards and accolades. January 4, 1989, he received designation from Governor Robert D. Orr with the Council of the Sagamores of the Wabash Award. He also received the AASA Appreciation Award for serving as chairman from the Committee on State Associations in 1989 and 1990. The IAPSS Outstanding Educator Award on November 30, 1989. The Lorin A. Burt Award presented by the Indiana School Boards Association on October 15, 1991. During the 1992 session of the Indiana General Assembly, where the House Concurrent Resolution 66 was passed by the House and Senate of Indiana, Charles was congratulated for his outstanding contribution to Hoosier Education. That same year, he received the AASA Distinguished  Service Award from the American Association of School Administrators. In 2003, he was the recipient of the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service. May of 2008 he was recognized by the Indiana Retired Teachers Association where he earned the President’s Award.

Though these events and accolades do represent the life of Charles, family best remembers him as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. The man who liked to golf and study The Civil War (though he often knew more about war sites, events than the tour guides did themselves). He loved reading, politics, and was a season ticket holder for the Indianapolis Colts and Indy 500. He was also a fan of IU sports as well as the Cincinnati Reds. Upon retirement, he enjoyed traveling and took Nell all over the U.S., Canada, France, and England. Charles was a family-oriented man who spent 95 fruitful years on earth; he leaves behind a legacy most cannot fathom thanks to his hard work and dedication. Charles Fields was a one of a kind man and will be greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to meet him.

Surviving to carry on his legacy are loving wife of 74 years, Nell; children, Mary Victoria Breece and Gary (Rita) Fields; grandchildren, Jennifer (Tommy) Benson and Sean Fields; great-grandchildren, Chase Benson and Delaney Fields; a host of extended family members and friends; as well as a host of teachers, students, families who benefited greatly, and still benefit to this day, from his service to Indiana’s education system.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, August 24, 2020 from 10:30am to 12:30pm at Flanner Buchanan – Speedway. A funeral service will be held after at 12:30pm, also at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Scholarships for Speedway. Checks to be mailed to Speedway High School, 5335 West 25^th Street, Speedway, IN 46224.