Harry E. Campbell

Harry Campbell, better known as “Bud” to his friends & family, passed away Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at the age of 100y/7mo. Bud was a resident of Gardendale, Alabama where he lived with his wife, Norrene, for the past 14 years.

Bud was born in Gardendale, Alabama on April 19, 1914 where he grew up and graduated from Mortimer Jordan High School. He was one of 9 children of Ethel Camilla Jones and Robert Andrew Campbell of Gardendale.

When he was 30 he met and married Lillie Mae Bridges on December 7, 1939. She had 3 daughters by a previous marriage.One daughter together, Martha Campbell.

Bud had many jobs to support his family. Together they owned Campbell Restaurant in Marion, Alabama and catered to the Marion Military Institute, and also had a cattle farm in Marion Junction, Alabama. When times got tough, he packed up his family along with his sister – Mary and Jack Love – and drove to El Paso, Texas looking for work. The trip took five days to drive on old Hwy 80, as this was before the interstate system. There were 9 people in the old Plymouth with scratchy wool seats – 3 adults, 5 children, and one baby up front, with no seat belts and no baby car seat, and everyone sitting in each other’s laps. Jack Love went to work in the Smelter, and Bud Campbell hired on with the Southern Pacific Railroad as a fireman. After living in El Paso for a couple of years, Bud and Billie moved to California, and then returned back to El Paso. Eventually, they moved back to Alabama and they built a home on five acres in Leeds before moving back to Birmingham, and ran for County Commissioner. When he returned to Alabama he began work at Sloss Furnace as Boiler Operator until he retired and received his 25 year pin.

One of Bud’s greatest enjoyments was his grandchildren– Billy, Terri, David, and Celeste - playing with them and taking them to dip in the creek behind his home in Leeds, or fishing with the boys. He would love to sit the girls on his knees and bounce them and play “Horsey”. Later on, when his other two grandsons, Chris and Marshall, joined the neighborhood Little League Baseball team, he became one of the coaches for many years which gave him much pleasure.

There are three words that can sum up the Bud’s philosophy of life – PASS IT ON. He was always eager to share his knowledge of how to do something – whether it was how to catch a fish, or how to tinker with a car, or how to use a paint brush or use a wrench. He was willing to pass on his learning experience to others.

Another thing that he passed on was his love for singing, to his daughter and to others. In the past year at the nursing home he was known for his singing. He would be heard singing “You Are My Sunshine” all the way down the hall and the nurses and other visitors and residents would join in with him.

Harry “Bud” Campbell is survived by :

His wife, Norrene Sargent Campbell of 14 years;

Daughter – Martha Faye Campbell Brown;

Grandchildren:

-William “Billy” Jenkins of Arlington, Tx

-Terry Jenkins Cowley of Ga

-David Jenkins of Arlington, Tx

-Celeste Jenkins of Gadsden, Al

-Chris Reid of Birmingham, Al

-Marshall Reid of Birmingham, Al

And of course, Bell – his loving lap companion

And a host of nephews and nieces.

He is preceded in death by his spouse of 55 years – Lillie Mae Bridges, known as “Aunt Billie”.

Daughter – Marian Jenkins of Huntsville, Al

Daughter – Patricia Romero of Louisiana

Services will be held at Gardendale Ridout’s Chapel on Monday, November 10, 2014, at 11am with a visitation to begin at 10:00am. Following the service, there will be a processional to the Moncrief Cemetery where Bud will be laid to rest.

Officiating the services will be: Marshall Reid, his grandson and Mike Whisenant.

Following the burial there will be a reception for the family at Mt. Vernon Methodist Church on Hwy 31.

The family of Harry Campbell would like to thank the love and care of Bud during his stay at Hanceville Nursing Home for this past year.