Carl Hatfield Obituary

Hatfield, Carl Roland Passed away peacefully on October 3, 2014 of natural causes; he was 100 years old. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on August 10, 1914 where he also attended college and seminary. He was married to his first wife Virginia for over 50 years, until she passed away in 1992; they had two boys, Carlyle and Terry. He was a pastor in a small Presbyterian Church in Texas, where he helped to build the congregation. He joined the U.S. Army in March of 1944, serving in both the European and Pacific theaters. He was awarded the Bronze Star with three clusters for his service in WWII, rendering care to hospital patients while under a bomb attack. After his military service he was an Assistant Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. He later became Chaplain at Norman Beatty Memorial Hospital for the mentally ill. At the age of 55 he received a Master's degree in Education. He then returned to Indianapolis and became the director of the Indianapolis Council of Churches. In 1993, Carl was reacquainted with his college girlfriend Margaret Beard, whom he had not seen in 52 years. They were married later that year and remained married until the day he passed away. His desire to help people led him to become a therapist for the state of Indiana, until he retired. He was known to many as, 'Dr. Silly' the humorist, for his love of bringing joy to others. He lived his life with love and kindness and is quoted as saying: "I am one of the men...who won't forget the commandment, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself'" Rev. Hatfield is survived by his wife, Margaret; his two sons, Carlyle and Terry; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild and his 95 year old sister, Betty Plummer.