George M. Campbell, Sr.

George M. Campbell, Sr., age 83, passed away peacefully at 8:15 a.m. on May 11, 2007, in the presence of Nellie, his loving wife of fifty-nine years. He was a resident of Niagara Village Retirement Community. He died at home.

Mr. Campbell enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and was honorably discharged. He was trained as a Combat Scout- Sniper at Camp Lejune, N.C. Following training, he was assigned to the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I., where he served as staff chauffer to the then Vice Admiral Spruance. Later in the war, he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he became part of the invasion force being assembled for the assault on Fortress Japan. That assault was aborted when the U.S. dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, bringing about the end of the war in the Pacific.

Following the war, Mr. Campbell returned to his hometown of Chicora, Pa., and shortly after, moved to Erie, where he was employed for a time at General Electric. In 1947, he married Nellie Irene McIntyre, who survives him. She is currently a resident at Niagara Village. The couple lived on Buffalo Road for a time, then relocated to Fairview, where they resided at 3880 West Avonia Road for fifty-two years. Mr. Campbell worked as an auto body repairman for Amman Bros. and Al Appell Motors until 1953, when he and a partner, Bert Allison, began C&A Collision Service, which was located on East 7th Street near Holland Street. In 1964, Mr. Campbell joined the staff of the Erie Insurance Group as a Physical Damage Appraiser. He rose in the ranks of management .and retired from the Erie in 1986. Mr. Campbell was a faithful member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Girard. He was active in the Fairview community for many years. He served as Boy Scout Master of Fairview Troop 68, then as a volunteer with the Otsego District. He was also a volunteer firefighter in Fairview and participated in the Fairview Garden Club. He was an avid, hunter, fisherman, golfer, and enjoyed cards and other competitive games.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Alice Hipple; a half sister, Caroline Rathbone and two half brothers, Clyde and Frank Campbell. Mr. Campbell is also survived by his four children and their spouses: Mr. George M. Campbell II and his wife Sandi of Girard, the Rev. Dr. Norman W. Campbell and his wife Brenda of Indianapolis, Mr. Kevin O. Campbell and his wife Angela of Elkhart, Indiana, and Mrs. Sandi Orban and her husband Dr. Robert of Glens Falls, N.Y. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have five grandchildren: Mr. Michael Campbell of Indianapolis, Mrs. Melissa Stewart of Elkhart, Ms. Tara Campbell of Elkhart, and Jessie and Robbie Orban of Glens Falls, N.Y.; also survived by a brother, Thomas Campbell of Junction City, Kan. and several nieces and nephews

Friends are invited to call on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of Funeral Services at 12 Noon at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 8942 Ridge Rd., Girard. Rev .Andrew Edwards will officiate. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Daniel R. Edder Funeral Home, Girard.

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