Henry Fields

Hank Fields’ life reads like a quintessential boys’ adventure story of the 20th century. Born to Lorena Rambo and Arch Fields in Notus, Idaho, descendants of people who crossed the Oregon Trail, he was raised on Goose Egg Island in the Snake River. This was during the Depression, a time when, as Hank put it, “you couldn’t buy a job.” His formal education stopped after a few months of his freshman year of high school. As a young teenager, he and his two older brothers Ashford and Clifford trapped for a living, becoming the first white men to ever go down the Owyhee River – in a boat of their own construction. Hank later rode the rails all over the West looking for work, eventually settling his mind on a career as a mechanic. He volunteered to pump gas for room and board, sleeping in a children’s’ playhouse behind the station. When no customers were in sight, he watched the mechanic closely. After learning the rudiments of the trade this way, he went to work for his uncle who had a garage in Alturas, CA. There, he met his wife, Tilla Marcella Jacobs. The two made a home in Alturas until Hank was called away to war in WWII. He had always wanted to be a pilot, and the war made this possible. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps but he didn’t have the requisite education to become an officer and pilot. Another recruit, Ebenezer Mervin Hill, helped him learn the more difficult mathematics. In return, Hank took Mervin with him when he went home on leave to visit his wife. Mervin wound up falling in love with one of Tilla’s sisters and marrying her, so he and Hank became brothers-in-law. Hank became a pilot who flew 54 missions on bomb runs over Nazi Germany, Italy, and North Africa, in the outfit later immortalized in the novel Catch-22. He also was one of the first volunteers to train black soldiers who eventually became the Tuskegee Airmen. Back home after the war, he opened a small motors repair shop, continued flying small craft for private clients, taught flying, drove a tow truck in winter, and also worked for ranchers during branding season. For fun, the couple began square dancing and then Hank became a caller. They enjoyed this for fifteen years. Hank also enjoyed deer hunting with Russ Enderlin and other pals, and he played a mean harmonica. When Hank was 45, he and Tilla adopted a baby daughter, Tina. The family then moved to Reno, Nevada. Hank flew for the telephone company there, watching over the buried cable across the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He later made his living building four P-51 Mustang aircraft from scratch for wealthy clients. He served as crew for some of these in the Reno Air Races. Hank also enjoyed motorcycle riding and took his daughter on many weekend camping trips using them. This is where they got to know one another, becoming true friends. The family enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, wildcrafting fruit, and picnicking in the woods with their dogs. During the week, they enjoyed quiet evenings at home reading, making things, or playing cards together. Hank was an avid reader who sought education on his own throughout his lifetime. After Tina grew up, the couple retired back to Alturas and built a house and home shop where he enjoyed woodworking projects. 15 years later, Tilla died. Hank subsequently remarried to Alta Stayton Howard George. He was 87 years old and she was 90. They lived a vibrant life together for another 11 years, the last 5 of which were spent in Colorado to be closer to his daughter who could help care for them. Alta lived to be nearly 101 years old. Hank passed on a year after Alta did, just five days shy of his 100th birthday. Henry C. “Hank” Fields was a fine human being: wise and deep, tough, competent, an original and open-minded thinker with a good sense of humor, scrupulously honest and deeply loving. Hank is survived by his daughter, Tina Rae Fields of Boulder, Colorado, a number of great-grand-nieces and nephews, and innumerable admiring caretakers and friends.