La Grande, Oregon
Alvin Wilbur Campbell, 87, of La Grande died Nov. 18 at his home. A celebration of life was observed Nov. 24 at Loveland Funeral Chapel.
Mr. Campbell was born Nov. 10, 1919, to Luther and Hattie Gaertner Campbell in La Grande.
In 1944 he joined the Army and was deployed in the Asiatic Pacific theater as a combat infantryman in the 172nd Infantry, 43rd division in Luzon, Philippines. He received numerous medals, including the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster for Heroism. He was honorably discharged in 1945.
Early in his working life he was employed by Union Pacific Railroad, Mount Emily Lumber and Inland Machinery in La Grande. He retired in 1984 as Union County Roadmaster after 32 years of service.
Mr. Campbell enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing and gardening. He was an artist and received many awards for his oil paintings.
A believer in the Second Amendment, he was an avid supporter of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Campbell of La Grande; children and their spouses, Dale and Ellen Campbell of Juneau, Alaska, Larry and Karen Campbell of Cove, Judy and Greg Nordang of Twisp, Wash., and Ron and Rita Campbell of Pendleton; sisters, Wilma Page of La Grande and Louise Harmon of The Dalles; former spouse and mother of his children, Joan Bright; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Lena Hix, George Campbell and Dennis Campbell.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice or to the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, Va. 22030.
The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending Dec. 2, 2006, Published: December 2, 2006