Philip J. Campbell 1925-2015
Philip J. (Soup) Campbell, 89, passed away Tuesday morning, July 7, 2015, surrounded by his family at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH after a brief illness. Philip was born on October 4, 1925 in Fitchburg, MA, son of the late Roy E. and Irene F. (Connor) Campbell. He was a graduate of St. Bernard’s High School in Fitchburg, and Becker College in Worcester, MA. Philip served in the US Navy from 1943 -1946, and spent more than two years in the Pacific during World War II. He later served in the US Naval Reserve until 1955. Philip was a Sales Manager for Doehla Greeting Cards in Fitchburg, MA and Nashua N.H. where he met the love of his life, Frances (Chimiklis), who worked as a clerk in the Payroll Department at the time. Frannie often joked that she only agreed to date Phil after checking out his paycheck first. Phil spent 18 years at Doehla’s and then joined Sunshine Art Studios in Springfield, MA in 1966 as Production Manager. As a result, Phil and his family relocated to Longmeadow, MA where they spent the next 16 years. Phil went to work at Springfield Photo Mount in 1972 for a promotion to National Sales Manager. In 1982, Phil and Frannie returned to NH for a position as National Sales Manager for Duncan McIntosh Card Company, a division of PVA of Wilton, NH where Phil worked until his retirement in 1994. Always a hard worker, Phil returned to work as a Greeting Card Consultant after retirement. Phil is survived by his loving wife and former payroll clerk, Frances (Chimiklis) Campbell, and would have been married 60 years next month. Phil and Frannie enjoyed all of those years, following their children’s sporting activities (particularly lacrosse!); vacationing in Bass River, Cape Cod every August with all of Phil’s childhood friends and their families; and travelling to Maine, Nova Scotia, and the Carribean, particularly Barbados, often with friends and family. For the last year and a half, Phil and Frannie have lived a quieter life at Mt. Carmel Rehabilitation and Nursing Home in Manchester, NH, where they were voted King and Queen of the “Senior” Prom last year. On any given day you could find the two of them sitting and holding hands all afternoon, always followed by a good night kiss! Phil’s family would like to express their most heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the wonderful care both parents have received at Mt. Carmel. Phil is also survived by his three children, daughter Karen Graham and her husband Joseph of Bedford, NH; son Kevin and wife Christine (Bourgeois) Campbell of Lakeville, MA; and son Keith Campbell and daughter-in-law Lisa (Roncone) Campbell of Longmeadow, MA. In his later years, Phil enjoyed the greatest pleasure in following the activities of his six grandchildren who all adored their Papa; Zachary and Zoey Graham of Bedford, NH; Paige and Ali Campbell of Lakeville, MA; and Kristopher and Kathryn Campbell of Longmeadow, MA. He is also survived by three sisters, Cynthia Valeri of Marblehead, MA, Phyllis Vetras of Clinton, MA and Janet Clegg of Leominster, MA and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by four sisters, Patricia Campbell, Rita Lanza, Barbara Mattson, and Dorothy Campbell; and three brothers, Richard Campbell, Roy Campbell and Michael Campbell. Calling hours are Thursday, July 9th from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at JN Boufford & Sons Funeral Home, 110 Bridge Street, Manchester, NH. Funeral will begin at Boufford & Sons at 9:00 a.m. Friday morning with a 10:00 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Elizabeth Seton’s, 190 Meetinghouse Road in Bedford, NH. A Committal Service and burial will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Longmeadow Cemetery in Longmeadow, MA. TOOMEY-O’BRIEN FUNERAL HOME is in charge of all local arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phil Campbell’s memory to the Mount Carmel Healing Garden Improvement Project, Catholic Charities, 215 Myrtle Street, Manchester, NH 03104.