Paul E. "Spider" Fields, 96, of Lafayette, IN, passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, October 25, 2022, with family at his side. Spider, as he was known since his childhood, was born in Lafayette, IN to Jacob Jordan Fields and Edna Orr (Alexander) Fields on September 6, 1926, one of nine children.
As a boy, Paul lived near Columbian Park's Loeb Stadium where his love of the game of baseball began. He watched baseball games there daily. Members of one of those early teams would throw pop-ups to him. One of them said that he catches them like a spider. Thus, the nickname "Spider" stayed with the young boy for the rest of his life. Paul was the bat boy for the old semi-pro Red Sox team and occasionally appeared in the lineup. He played outfield on the varsity baseball team while attending Jefferson High School.
After graduating from Jeff in 1945, Paul enlisted in the army and was a with the Field Artillery 95th Division stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. At the end of WWII, he was honorably discharged in 1946, returning to Lafayette to attend Purdue University. He received his BS degree in 1952 and MS degree in 1960 from Purdue where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
On September 8, 1951, Paul married Amelia Drysdale at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Lafayette, IN. They were lifelong members of St. Lawrence. Their strong faith played an important part in their lives. He and Amelia recently celebrated their 71st anniversary. He loved his family dearly and was grateful to be blessed with nine grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. He and Amelia enjoyed spending time with them and attending their activities.
After teaching for one year at Otterbein, Paul joined the Lafayette School Corporation as a teacher at Sunnyside Junior High School. He taught at Sunnyside from 1952-1969 and 1975-1986. He taught social studies at Jefferson High School from 1969-1975.
Paul served as the Business Manager for the American Legion baseball team in 1954 and 1955. He became the Head Baseball Coach at Jeff in 1960. He served in this position until 1975, compiling a record of 404 wins, 69 losses and one tie. During that time, the Bronchos won two State Championships and one runner-up as well as eight North Central Conference titles. He proudly coached both of his sons. During and after his coaching career, Paul was honored in 1974 as the District 2 National High School Baseball Coach and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association "Coach of the Year". He was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, the Lafayette School Corporation Wall of Fame in 2003 and the Loeb Stadium Wall of Fame in 2007.
In addition to teaching, coaching, and helping raise a family, Paul spent his summers running a paving machine for Fauber Construction Company. After his retirement, you could often find him on a golf course playing a round of golf with his family and friends. He was also a 70-year member of the American Legion Post # 11 and member of the 40/8 Voiture
Paul is survived by his wife; three children; nine grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and one brother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents; eight siblings - Mary Elizabeth Koning, Frances Larson, William, Gordon, Robert, Milton, Virginia Schrag and infant brother Richard; and great-granddaughter, Addison Fields.
A Rosary service will begin at 4:45 PM with visitation from 5:00-8:00 PM on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at Soller-Baker Funeral Home, 400 Twyckenham Boulevard. A Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM will be celebrated at St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Monday, October 31, 2022 with Fr. Jeff Martin officiating. Burial will be at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
As a boy, Paul lived near Columbian Park's Loeb Stadium where his love of the game of baseball began. He watched baseball games there daily. Members of one of those early teams would throw pop-ups to him. One of them said that he catches them like a spider. Thus, the nickname "Spider" stayed with the young boy for the rest of his life. Paul was the bat boy for the old semi-pro Red Sox team and occasionally appeared in the lineup. He played outfield on the varsity baseball team while attending Jefferson High School.
After graduating from Jeff in 1945, Paul enlisted in the army and was a with the Field Artillery 95th Division stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. At the end of WWII, he was honorably discharged in 1946, returning to Lafayette to attend Purdue University. He received his BS degree in 1952 and MS degree in 1960 from Purdue where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
On September 8, 1951, Paul married Amelia Drysdale at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Lafayette, IN. They were lifelong members of St. Lawrence. Their strong faith played an important part in their lives. He and Amelia recently celebrated their 71st anniversary. He loved his family dearly and was grateful to be blessed with nine grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. He and Amelia enjoyed spending time with them and attending their activities.
After teaching for one year at Otterbein, Paul joined the Lafayette School Corporation as a teacher at Sunnyside Junior High School. He taught at Sunnyside from 1952-1969 and 1975-1986. He taught social studies at Jefferson High School from 1969-1975.
Paul served as the Business Manager for the American Legion baseball team in 1954 and 1955. He became the Head Baseball Coach at Jeff in 1960. He served in this position until 1975, compiling a record of 404 wins, 69 losses and one tie. During that time, the Bronchos won two State Championships and one runner-up as well as eight North Central Conference titles. He proudly coached both of his sons. During and after his coaching career, Paul was honored in 1974 as the District 2 National High School Baseball Coach and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association "Coach of the Year". He was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, the Lafayette School Corporation Wall of Fame in 2003 and the Loeb Stadium Wall of Fame in 2007.
In addition to teaching, coaching, and helping raise a family, Paul spent his summers running a paving machine for Fauber Construction Company. After his retirement, you could often find him on a golf course playing a round of golf with his family and friends. He was also a 70-year member of the American Legion Post # 11 and member of the 40/8 Voiture
Paul is survived by his wife; three children; nine grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and one brother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents; eight siblings - Mary Elizabeth Koning, Frances Larson, William, Gordon, Robert, Milton, Virginia Schrag and infant brother Richard; and great-granddaughter, Addison Fields.
A Rosary service will begin at 4:45 PM with visitation from 5:00-8:00 PM on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at Soller-Baker Funeral Home, 400 Twyckenham Boulevard. A Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM will be celebrated at St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Monday, October 31, 2022 with Fr. Jeff Martin officiating. Burial will be at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
Paul E. "Spider" Fields, 96, of Lafayette, IN, passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, October 25, 2022, with family at his side. Spider, as he was known since his childhood, was born in Lafayette, IN to Jacob Jordan Fields and Edna Orr (Alexander) Fields on September 6, 1926, one of nine children.
As a boy, Paul lived near Columbian Park's Loeb Stadium where his love of the game of baseball began. He watched baseball games there daily. Members of one of those early teams would throw pop-ups to him. One of them said that he catches them like a spider. Thus, the nickname "Spider" stayed with the young boy for the rest of his life. Paul was the bat boy for the old semi-pro Red Sox team and occasionally appeared in the lineup. He played outfield on the varsity baseball team while attending Jefferson High School.
After graduating from Jeff in 1945, Paul enlisted in the army and was a with the Field Artillery 95th Division stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. At the end of WWII, he was honorably discharged in 1946, returning to Lafayette to attend Purdue University. He received his BS degree in 1952 and MS degree in 1960 from Purdue where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
On September 8, 1951, Paul married Amelia Drysdale at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Lafayette, IN. They were lifelong members of St. Lawrence. Their strong faith played an important part in their lives. He and Amelia recently celebrated their 71st anniversary. He loved his family dearly and was grateful to be blessed with nine grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. He and Amelia enjoyed spending time with them and attending their activities.
After teaching for one year at Otterbein, Paul joined the Lafayette School Corporation as a teacher at Sunnyside Junior High School. He taught at Sunnyside from 1952-1969 and 1975-1986. He taught social studies at Jefferson High School from 1969-1975.
Paul served as the Business Manager for the American Legion baseball team in 1954 and 1955. He became the Head Baseball Coach at Jeff in 1960. He served in this position until 1975, compiling a record of 404 wins, 69 losses and one tie. During that time, the Bronchos won two State Championships and one runner-up as well as eight North Central Conference titles. He proudly coached both of his sons. During and after his coaching career, Paul was honored in 1974 as the District 2 National High School Baseball Coach and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association "Coach of the Year". He was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, the Lafayette School Corporation Wall of Fame in 2003 and the Loeb Stadium Wall of Fame in 2007.
In addition to teaching, coaching, and helping raise a family, Paul spent his summers running a paving machine for Fauber Construction Company. After his retirement, you could often find him on a golf course playing a round of golf with his family and friends. He was also a 70-year member of the American Legion Post # 11 and member of the 40/8 Voiture
Paul is survived by his wife; three children; nine grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and one brother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents; eight siblings - Mary Elizabeth Koning, Frances Larson, William, Gordon, Robert, Milton, Virginia Schrag and infant brother Richard; and great-granddaughter, Addison Fields.
A Rosary service will begin at 4:45 PM with visitation from 5:00-8:00 PM on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at Soller-Baker Funeral Home, 400 Twyckenham Boulevard. A Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM will be celebrated at St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Monday, October 31, 2022 with Fr. Jeff Martin officiating. Burial will be at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
As a boy, Paul lived near Columbian Park's Loeb Stadium where his love of the game of baseball began. He watched baseball games there daily. Members of one of those early teams would throw pop-ups to him. One of them said that he catches them like a spider. Thus, the nickname "Spider" stayed with the young boy for the rest of his life. Paul was the bat boy for the old semi-pro Red Sox team and occasionally appeared in the lineup. He played outfield on the varsity baseball team while attending Jefferson High School.
After graduating from Jeff in 1945, Paul enlisted in the army and was a with the Field Artillery 95th Division stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. At the end of WWII, he was honorably discharged in 1946, returning to Lafayette to attend Purdue University. He received his BS degree in 1952 and MS degree in 1960 from Purdue where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
On September 8, 1951, Paul married Amelia Drysdale at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Lafayette, IN. They were lifelong members of St. Lawrence. Their strong faith played an important part in their lives. He and Amelia recently celebrated their 71st anniversary. He loved his family dearly and was grateful to be blessed with nine grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. He and Amelia enjoyed spending time with them and attending their activities.
After teaching for one year at Otterbein, Paul joined the Lafayette School Corporation as a teacher at Sunnyside Junior High School. He taught at Sunnyside from 1952-1969 and 1975-1986. He taught social studies at Jefferson High School from 1969-1975.
Paul served as the Business Manager for the American Legion baseball team in 1954 and 1955. He became the Head Baseball Coach at Jeff in 1960. He served in this position until 1975, compiling a record of 404 wins, 69 losses and one tie. During that time, the Bronchos won two State Championships and one runner-up as well as eight North Central Conference titles. He proudly coached both of his sons. During and after his coaching career, Paul was honored in 1974 as the District 2 National High School Baseball Coach and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association "Coach of the Year". He was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, the Lafayette School Corporation Wall of Fame in 2003 and the Loeb Stadium Wall of Fame in 2007.
In addition to teaching, coaching, and helping raise a family, Paul spent his summers running a paving machine for Fauber Construction Company. After his retirement, you could often find him on a golf course playing a round of golf with his family and friends. He was also a 70-year member of the American Legion Post # 11 and member of the 40/8 Voiture
Paul is survived by his wife; three children; nine grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and one brother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents; eight siblings - Mary Elizabeth Koning, Frances Larson, William, Gordon, Robert, Milton, Virginia Schrag and infant brother Richard; and great-granddaughter, Addison Fields.
A Rosary service will begin at 4:45 PM with visitation from 5:00-8:00 PM on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at Soller-Baker Funeral Home, 400 Twyckenham Boulevard. A Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM will be celebrated at St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Monday, October 31, 2022 with Fr. Jeff Martin officiating. Burial will be at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
