Howard R. Fields
Howard Fields, 76, of Charleroi, died at 5:16 a.m. Sunday, May 10, 2020, at St. Luke’s Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, N.J.
He was born November 6, 1943, in Charleroi, a son of the late Dwight and Lois Fields of Bentleyville.
He is survived by Pamela Bombalek, who he married August 21, 1965. He and his wife, Pamela had spent many happy years together. They loved to dance, bowl, sing, travel when able, and visit friends and family. Howard is also survived by his two daughters, Heather Fields and Renee Fields; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Craig (Dawn) Fields, Loren (Rachel) Fields, Gary Fields; his brother-in-law, Dennis Bombalek; and son-in-law, Brian Jones.
Family was important to Howard as he was active in the Greenlee and Smiley family reunions. He was an avid reader and enjoyed historical fiction. Howard was inspired by music and was a member of the Green Academy Dulcimer Players in Carmichaels. He loved to cook with foods grown on the Fields’ family farm including pie and apple butter, and making chocolate walnut fudge from his walnut trees. He enjoyed carpentry and working with his hands and completed many projects including renovating his own home.
Howard was adored by his grandchildren, Thomas and Jenna, and spent a lot of time visiting and babysitting in New Jersey, where his daughters currently live and work.
Howard graduated from Bentleyville High School in 1961 and from California University of Pennsylvania in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science focus in Mathematics. He spent four years teaching mathematics in the Franklin School District in Franklin. He spent another four years teaching in the Greensburg School District in Greensburg, and 30 years teaching math and computer science at Bentworth High School in Bentleyville. As an early adaptor, Howard was instrumental in bringing computers into the school system. He enjoyed teaching students’ practical applications for mathematics earning accolades for his service. He was always willing to spend extra time tutoring students and served as senior class sponsor. Howard also served as the head of the teachers’ union in the Bentworth School District and was a member of the PSEA-R.
Howard became a member of the Bentleyville United Methodist Church in 1956, where he taught Sunday school and Bible study for both children and adults. Howard served as choir director for 30 years beginning in 1969. He served as chairman on the Council of Ministries, lay leader, chairman of the Pastor Parish Committee, chairman for the Commission on Education, lay delegate of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, president of the United Methodist Men and chairman of the McCracken Scholarship Fund. Howard served as treasurer of the church until this past fall.
All funeral arrangements will be private and under the direction of the Greenlee Funeral Home, 619 Main Street, Bentleyville. Interment will be in Maple Creek Cemetery, Fallowfield Township.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fields Family c/o Greenlee Funeral Home, 619 Main Street, Bentleyville, PA 15314, for a scholarship fund in Mr. Fields’ name or to the Bentleyville United Methodist Church, 712 Main Street, Bentleyville, PA 15314.