John K. Fitzpatrick

ALBION — John Kenneth Fitzpatrick, 72, of Albion, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana.

He was born on Jan. 29, 1952, to  Dr. W.C. Fitzpatrick and Patricia (Conwell) Fitzpatrick in Elwood, Indiana, and was delivered by his grandfather Dr. Harry Fitzpatrick.  He graduated from Ball State University in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

John married his wife, Bev (Smith) Fitzpatrick, on Aug. 3, 1974.

He taught for Bluffton Community Schools and North Adams Community Schools while obtaining his master’s degree in education from Purdue University and his principal’s license. John was hired as assistant principal and athletic director at Kendallville Central School. John then accepted a position as the principal of Albion Elementary in the Central Noble School District from 1986-1991. He spent the rest of his education career in the Central Noble School System, teaching at Albion Elementary and Wolf Lake Elementary. During his time at Central Noble he wore many hats including principal, teacher, baseball coach, basketball score keeper, librarian, and school board member.

He was a proud Chicago Cubs fan and lifelong card-carrying member of the Die-Hard Cubs Fan Club. After retirement he took on the hobby of photography, and he loved taking pictures of nature and animals, specifically birds. He was extremely involved in his grandkid’s lives, attending as many of their events as possible. There was rarely a summer weekend where he wasn’t spending it at the baseball diamond. John was also a board member of the Noble County Community Foundation and the Sweet Church Community Association.

Surviving are his wife, Bev; son and daughter-in-law, Sean and Kristen Fitzpatrick, of Fort Wayne; daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Brock Pulver, of Albion; grandchildren, Cole, Blake, Sam and Ellie. Also surviving are sister-in-law, Linda Fitzpatrick; and brother-in-law, Tom Henderson. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, William Fitzpatrick; and sister, Sue Henderson.

A celebration of life for family and friends will be held from 1-7 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at Harper Funeral Homes, Albion Chapel, 771 Trail Ridge Road, Albion.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at the funeral home.   Pastor Bret Frymier will officiate.  Burial of ashes will immediately follow the memorial service at Sweet Cemetery, rural Albion.

Contributions in John’s memory may be directed to Central Noble Athletics with the memo “Baseball Program”.

To sign the online guestbook or leave a condolence, visit www.harperfuneralhomes.com.

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