Jan. 20, 1941 - Jan. 20, 2013

HUGHSON, Calif. - Eugene A. Field, 72, died peacefully Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, in Hughson.

He was born in Nappanee, Ind., on Jan. 20, 1941, and was the eldest of three sons of Howard A. Field and Miriam E. Grasz. His family moved to Turlock in 1941 and in 1950 to Fresno, where he graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1959.

Gene earned his B.A. in biology and M.A. in botany, as well as a teaching credential at Fresno State University. While in college from 1959 to 1967, he worked at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge in Yosemite National Park in the summers.

After college, he sailed to Australia in 1967, where he taught science for three years to high school students at Westminster College in Adelaide.

In 1968, he married Anne E. Healy and they had two children.

He returned to California in 1970, and the following year moved with his family to Patterson, where he taught biology at Patterson High School from 1971 to 2004. Beginning in 2003, he taught biology for Modesto Junior College.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, John W. Field.

He is survived by his children, Lucie of Patterson and Victor of Murphys; brother Dennis "Pody" (Cathy) Field of Kingsburg; sister-in-law Diane Field of Montreal, Canada; and nieces Suzanne Field (Jimmy McColery) of Alameda, Calif. and Clover Still (Preston) of McCall, Idaho.

Burial will be in Patterson District Cemetery. A memorial will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at Patterson High School Auditorium, 200 N. 7th St.