MORRISVILLE – Kenneth James Campbell, 86, passed away peacefully in the comfort of family at the Central Vermont Medical Center on Thursday, June 19, following a brief illness.
Born in Morrisville on May 11, 1939, Ken was the son of the late James and Winona (Allen) Campbell. On May 10, 1957, Ken married the former Linda Kay Newton in Morrisville.
Ken grew up on the family farm on Randolph Road where he learned many skills and a strong work ethic working alongside his father.
A 1957 graduate of People’s Academy, Ken was a proud member of the school’s basketball team, winning the Northern Vermont Class B state tournament in 1955. Following graduation, Ken continued to work the family farm and was employed in delivery and sales by the former Eastern State’s Farmers’ Exchange, a farmer’s cooperative, before merging with Grange League Federation, forming Agway. In 1969, Ken went to work for Oneal “Sonny” Demars at Demars Hardware and Rentals in Morrisville where he served as the store and rentals manager until his retirement in 2003.
Ken was most at home in the outdoors. His church was in the woods hunting, fishing the streams and lakes in central and northern Vermont, trapping in his earlier years, as well as cutting and splitting countless cords of wood for his family. A longtime snowmobile enthusiast, he and his wife Linda also enjoyed RV life traveling throughout the United States and splitting their time between Florida in the winter and Vermont in the summer. Ken was an enthusiastic country music fan and very much enjoyed attending shows at the Grand Old Opry as well as numerous country music jams.
In his leisure time, Ken was a voracious reader, and he enjoyed family genealogy and Morrisville and Lamoille County history. He served his community as a founding volunteer member and EMT of the Morristown Ambulance Service and was a longtime member of the Morristown Board of Civil Authority. Ken enjoyed a variety of card games, cribbage, was an avid fan of the Red Sox and was a longtime dowser. Ken also served as a justice of the peace and was delighted to have officiated weddings for a number of family members. Ken and Linda, along with family, enjoyed time at their camp on Butler Island.
A man with an incredible memory, he could spend hours telling countless stories about people, places and events that spanned the 86 years of his life. Ken was abundantly proud of his children’s and grandchildren’s sports participation, making it a point to attend events and being the loudest voice in the audience. As a longtime basketball referee, he made it known if the referee made a poor call.
Ken is loved and mourned by his wife of 68 years, Linda Campbell of Morrisville and Bushnell Fla.; their children, Terri-Lee C. Palermo (Chris) of Morrisville, Karen Hussey (Kevin) of South Hero, Lori Renaud (Paul) of Hardwick, Craig Campbell of Morrisville, Heather Campbell (Robert Rushford) of Richmond; 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Redmond of East Montpelier; two sisters-in-law, Sukay Campbell of Morrisville, Paula Campbell of Jericho; a son-in-law, Dr. Henry Southall of Morrisville; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.
Ken is preceded in death by his daughter, Sarah Southall who passed away on February 8, 2023; three brothers, Allen Campbell, Malcom “Mac” Campbell, Ralph Campbell, and brother-in-law, Paul Redmond.
A service celebrating the life of Kenneth James Campbell will be held from the United Community Church of Morrisville on July 11, at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow in the church dining room. Inurnment will take place following the reception in Pleasant View Cemetery, Morrisville. For those who wish, memorial gifts in lieu of flowers would be appreciated to the United Community Church of Morrisville, PO Box 475, Morrisville, VT 05661. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Northern Vermont Funeral Service in Hardwick. To send online condolences visit northernvermontfuneralservice.com.
