Alfred C. Campbell
Alfred C. “Al” Campbell, 82, of Vestaburg, passed away peacefully at home, with his wife, Marjorie by his side, Wednesday, July 8, 2020, from complications of Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).
He was born February 6, 1938, in Fredericktown, a son of the late Alfred and Julia Keys Campbell; brother of Rebecca (Gordon) Gregor, and the late Meredith Campbell.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marjorie Ondash Campbell; son Jeffrey Campbell (Jill); and daughter Allison Pileggi (William); also five beautiful grandchildren, Alexis, Steven, Tate and Heath Campbell, and Lila Pileggi; many nieces, nephews, and beloved family and friends from Connecticut to Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and even Santa Monica, Calif.!
Al was a Catholic of strong morals and parishioner of Saint Katherine Drexel Parish.
He was a 1956 graduate of Beth-Joint High School followed by a proud enlistment in the United States Marine Corps, 8th Engineers, Camp Lejeune, N.C., achieving the rank of corporal, expert rifleman, and battalion accounting clerk, Fiscal Operations, 1956-1958.
Upon returning home, Al worked for J&L Steel Corp for 23 years, at both the Aliquippa Steel Works and then the Vesta-Shannopin Coal Division, responsible for the maintenance of all electrical, hydraulic and mechanical machinery. He left the mining industry in 1985 to finish his career in the sunshine… First in heavy-highway, concrete road construction, followed by 12 more years as a professional commercial union carpenter.
Al’s personal life, selflessly filled with his most important passion, “my family”, as he so often said, was shared his entire life to the blessings of all who called him brother, uncle and friend. “Dad, Pappy, and Dear”, perhaps his favorites… No one who met Al, even casually, was left untouched by his warmth, compassion, love of life, nor great character and integrity. His presence was always fun, always positive, and forever smiling. He loved with all his heart, being a husband, father, father-in-law, “Pappy”, uncle, friend, and on rare occasion remind you, a Marine.
Al’s love of the outdoors filled his second home, The V-5 Camp in Endeavor, officially established in 1968 when he and his closest friends and brothers-in-law moved from their old junk school bus (yes, literally) to their first cabin on “Route three-sixes” alongside East Hickory Creek at the base of the Allegheny National Forest. V-5 served Al and “the boys” very well for near 50 years, and now a second camp, a quarter-mile “up”, prayerfully, for another 50.
His passion and respect for all God’s creatures were one of the many life’s lessons passed on to his son and nephews on countless hunting, fishing, and camping trips. Eagle Scout Al, Dead-Eye, Brother Al, or just “Uncle Al” were a few of his Forest County names. The indoor sports were not much less subdued… The Steelers, poker, occasionally watching golf, and any and all electrical, plumbing or structural requirements of the V-5 Camp were his other passions. If it broke, Al fixed it; if it didn’t break, Al likely “fixed it up” anyways. His family, all of us, across the country, are better in life because of what Al taught us, told us, fixed for us, made for us, or simply nodded our way and smiled at us. He was that guy… always giving, always loving, and always kind. And now, always and forever, deeply, deeply missed. God bless you, dad, Pap, uncle and brother… your loving and heartbroken family.
Friends will be received from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the time of a blessing service, Monday, July 13, in Greenlee’s Fredericktown Funeral Home Ltd., 42 Bank Street at Crawford Road, Fredericktown, with the Rev. Edward Yuhas officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to The ALS Association, 1300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209, or the charity of one’s choice.
Guestbook and personal condolences may be accessed at www.GreenleeFuneralHome.com.