Carl Edward Fields was called home to be with our Lord January 24. He was a native of San Antonio, born in 1931 to Eleanor and Jess Fields. He graduated from Central Catholic HS in 1949 and earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University after serving in the Army and being stationed at Fort Hood. He married Merilyn Marie “Tootsie” Tschirhart in 1962 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Castroville, and also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary there in 2012. They had five children, Mark, Amy, twins Joseph and Andrew, and Paul, and raised their family in Corpus Christi where he was the founding manager of the Ramada Inn Bayfront.
He was an avid golfer and enjoyed relaxing at the beach. He was very active in his parishes, including becoming one of the first Eucharistic Ministers at the Corpus Christi Cathedral. He had a strong devotion to our Blessed Mother and the Schoenstatt movement.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his three sisters, Barbara Fields, Joyce Beard and Eleanor “Lovie” Heye, and brothers-in-law, William T. “Billy” Tschirhart, Sr., Maurice Rihn, Sr, and Harold Balmos.
Carl is survived by his wife and children, Mark and Mary Jean Fields, Amy and Stephen Whitworth, Joe and Deb Fields, Andy and Donna Fields, and Paul and Melissa Fields, along with thirteen grandchildren; and in-laws, Arthur Heye, Connie Balmos, Anna Louise (Harold) Hans and Alfrene Tschirhart.
Visitation was Monday, January 28, 2019 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home, with the Holy Rosary recited at 6:45 pm that evening. Mass of the Resurrection will be Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 10:00 am at St. Louis Catholic Church in Castroville. Interment with military honors will follow at St. Louis Catholic Cemetery.
The family wants to thank the wonderful staffs of Landon Ridge and Alamo Hospice for their tender care of our dad during his last few years. The family is also indebted to the great care that Andy and Amy have provided our parents after their move to San Antonio. Carl’s family requests memorials be given in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home.