Fonds 0447 - Bob Field fonds

Robert (Bob) Murray Field was born in 1920 in Vanessa, Ontario. He came to Grande Prairie by train in June 1937, just out of high school. He managed to find work as a clerk for Bird's Grocery store for $5/week. Bob went to Saskatoon in the fall of 1939 to attend the University of Saskatchewan to become an electrical engineer. He spent his fourth year of university at the University of Manitoba. While in Saskatoon, he met Helen Martha Alison and the couple was married on March 7, 1944. Helen was the daughter of Jack and Hazel Alison and was born in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan on August 3, 1923. After finishing his degree, Bob joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as Station Signals Officer in charge of radio and radar communications for west coast air force bases. In 1945 Bob was discharged from the Air Force and returned with Helen to Grande Prairie, building a home in the VLA area. Helen and Bob had three children: Roger, Linda, and John (Jack). Bob was employed by the electrical firm of Whitlock & Sons. In 1956 the firm became Blais, Shedden & Field, architects, and was later renamed Shedden & Field. An important part of Bob's life was his involvement with amateur (HAM) radio. In 1946, Bob received his amateur radio license under the call sign VE6RF. In 1949-50, Bob and several other radio amateurs formed the Peace Country Amateur Radio Club. In 1970, the Fields moved from Grande Prairie to Vancouver. After Bob's departure, his firm continued for awhile as Shedden & Field before being renamed Bowen & Field and finally Field, Field & Field, when Bob returned to Grande Prairie in 1976 and went into business with his two sons. Bob also acquired a new radio call sign on his return, VE6WB, which had formerly belonged to a friend. Helen Field died February 10, 1991. Bob later remarried, to Marion Howarth. Besides amateur radio, Bob was also involved in the community in other ways, as a member of the Grande Prairie Kinsmen Club, the Rotary Club, and as arena commissioner of the Grande Prairie Arena from the end of World War II until it closed. Bob died in May 2008.