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In memory of
Mr. Abb "Po Boy" Thomas Campbell Jr.
July 27, 1939 - February 3, 2021
Jul 27, 1939 - Feb 3, 2021
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Abb's obituary
He was born to Abb Thomas Sr. and Mary (Tiggs) Campbell on July 27, 1939 in New Madrid, Missouri.
Abb (aka Po Boy) was the youngest of seven children; Charles (Sonny boy), Richard, James, Warren, Mildred, and Hattie Blanche.
When Abb was ten years old, his family moved from the country in New Madrid, Missouri to St. Louis... and he knew he needed to escape. When he was in the 8th grade, he convinced his parents to sign paperwork so he could join the United States Airforce at age fifteen. He lied about his age, led a troop in Vietnam at the age of 25, and later became an MP (Military policeman) then a canine instructor.
He was extremely patriotic... and always flew a flag... sometimes upside down. "So proudly we served" he would always say. And he served in the US Airforce from 1954-1974. Although he told some good stories about a fight or two, he was honourably discharged.
While still in the Air Force, Abb married Betty Carter on May 5, 1961 in Cape Cod, then had Brian, Karen, and Sharon.
Always wor
king, in the early years, he was a mechanic, candlemaker, bartender, and hvac technician to name a few.
Then he went on to work for United States Customs and Border Protection from 1974-1994. He retired from U.S. customs as a supervisor at a GS13.
When both daughters graduated college, we lost Brian, then the divorce... Then, he shared his expertise in K-9 training, and supervised a team on the border in El Paso.
Dad would always say, "I served in two wars, and lost them both...Vietnam, and the War on Drugs".
After "retirement" he couldn't stop working.
He needed to be tinkering or contributing in some way, so he parked cars for Hertz rental car, repaired outboard motors for a shop on The Sound, then somehow worked security for Bill Gates at Microsoft, and finally worked security at a retirement community on the Puget sound.
He was an eccentric, nomadic, adventurer and amazing story teller with a distinctive, booming voice, perfect diction, an incredible memory, and large expressive eyes, supportive father, and he never met a stranger.
He told me recently that he had always felt like a kid from the country - no matter his accomplishments in life.
Dad really enjoyed recounting history and life. And some of his stories solidify my guardian angel theory ... He told me about:
- The time he was clotheslined running through yards as a kid, and stepped on the nail that went through his entire foot...
- The way Great Aunt Cassini's hair when not tucked in her bonnet went all the way to the floor, she smoke a corn cob pipe, and hid a bottle of spirits in her drawer... I'm sure this is where he got it.
- The time President John F. Kennedy touched his elbow while he worked aboard both Air Force One & Air Force Two in 1960's... "didn't wash that elbow for weeks." :) ... and about being called to entertain JFK junior and his sister doing drills on Cape Cod.
- The time he fell off his motorcycle circa 1973 in the smokey mountains... I remember the teeth of his comb left a perfect line of holes in his back pocket.
- The time he helped a friend tow a boat in the open water in Puget sound...I wish i could tell a story like he could! A definite near miss.
- How he added a side car to his motorcycle so Bandit (the Belgian Malanoir) could ride too.
- How he learned to snow ski at age 65... I have a picture of him on Mt. Olympia somewhere.
- He helped drag Lake Texoma for a drowning victim and guarded the body in his boat until the police arrived...
- The time he finally caught "Lips" the giant catfish... "Get the net!"
- The time he towed his fifth wheel trailer behind his Lincoln Continental, and it broke down and had to be towed by a big truck into the park... Karen and I witnessed this one via caravan... we were so irritated!
Dad lived in so many places, and just had to be on the move. He's lived in...
New Madrid MO, St. Louis MO, Cape Cod MA, Altus OK, Front Royal VA, San Antonio TX, Houston TX, Bedford TX, El Paso TX, Seattle WA, Sherman TX, Crowley TX, Wiley TX, Princeton TX...Abb just couldn't stop moving, and loved the water. Just this past year, we talked him out of buying a pontoon boat!
In addition to being a proud veteran, and supportive father, he enjoyed the outdoors, cruising around on his "bat mobile", fishing, boating, all animals - but especially dogs... jazz, wood - working, tinkering, mechanic-ing, farming, story telling, seafood, cajun food, oatmeal with honey, swisher sweets, gin and tonic, mild rebellion, merlot, profiling (in a good way), and his country.
Throughout his entire life, he was dedicated to his family and helping out anyone in need; especially if there is an adventure to be had.
As a child, Abb's nickname was Po'boy. And many of his nieces and nephews still refer to him as Uncle Po'Boy or Uncle Po. He kept in good contact with his family, and loved talking to each extended niece, and nephew that wanted to keep contact. He knew everyone's names. He was so proud of everyone!
He was an avid historian, and went to great lengths researching family geneology and the origin of his name. Later in life, he would often introduce himself as Absalom when anyone inquired about "Abb", or got it wrong. He discovered that he was 91% African American, 1% Native american, 2% Asian, 6% European. Not a "mere 80%" (like his kids -lol).
Over the past six months, I learned a lot about my Dad, and where his head was.
I thought he was being overdramatic when he insisted on us helping him get his will, and legal docs in order and notarized in October... Practical in hindsight.
I'm sure it's not surprising that my Dad hated the discord in our country, and would get in heated discussions about politics, endlessly watch the news. Finally he acquired a bit of peace when he stuck to "his judges" and stopped watching the news.
He confided that he was tired of fighting, and just wanted to live his life.
During this last stay in the hospital, Dad asked me "Who are you, Sharon?" ... and confided that he had always thought he'd be my hero forever. Even though i rebelled, he ALWAYS will be. He just wanted to share in life, and enjoy nature.
Dad told me he never wanted to be a burden. And he wasn't. But he needed our help in the end, and we were happy to have had some really sweet moments together while we tried to maintain his dignity. Robert overheard us a few times though the baby monitor... I realize now how special it is that Karen, and Robert and I could care for him, and do things so unimaginably difficult because he was our Dad.. a caring, father... he has done so much for us, and although we grumbled early on, he deserved to be treated like a king.
It's been three weeks since we lost our Dad, but in the months prior to him getting really ill, I'm comforted knowing the following:
He told me that he'd lived a good life; "a beautiful life".
He told me he was proud of his children. "even Brian"... through tears.
He told me that he's always loved mom.
He told me he was not afraid to die.
The morning that we admitted him to skilled nursing, he was telling our history and family history to the aide (Cindi). He was SOOO lucid, I thought he might pull out of it, if he only could get stronger physically. And that was the plan, he would go through THEIR rehabilitation, program, and then probably assisted living. But we didn't realize he already had pneumonia.
After a bout of depression, advanced gout, messed up medications, a series of falls, two hospitalizations, and a stay in rehab to regain strength, Abb Thomas Campbell Jr. finally contracted COVID-19 and lost the battle within a week of discharge from rehab.
He wasn't alone; the pastor was in the room with him and prayed over Dad with me. I was Facetiming, and Karen was on the phone, and Robert helped us to end the call.
It also gives me some peace in knowing that although he was rebellious against "religion" -
" We went to church eight days a week." he would say :)
Po Boy, Abb Thomas Campbell Jr., my Dad, believed in God.
The last page of his bible was bookmarked on the following verse:
"Corinthians 5:11 Becoming Friends with God NCV
Since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to help people accept the truth about us. God knows what we really are, and I hope in your hearts you know, too. We are not trying to prove ourselves to you again, but we are telling you about ourselves so you will be proud of us. Then you will have an answer for those who are proud about things that can be seen rather than what is in the heart. If we are out of our minds, it is for God. If we have our right minds it is for you. The love of Christ controls us, because we know that One died for all, so all have died. Christ died for all so that those who live would not continue to live for themselves. He died for them and was raised from the dead so that they would live for him."
Abb Thomas Campbell Jr. joins his father - Abb Sr., mother - Mary, brothers - Charles (Sonny boy) and his son - Lawrence, Richard and his daughter - Bonnie, James and his son - Bobby, Warren and his son - Wayne, sister - Mildred Carter and her daughters - Angela Caddell and Mary Katherine Caddell, ex-wife - Betty Lee (Carter), and Son - Brian Thomas in Heaven.
He is survived by his daughter, Sharon Campbell-Wood, son-in-law Robert Wood; grand-puppies Buddy and Willow of Princeton, TX ; daughter - Karen Campbell of Garland, TX ; and his sister - Hattie Blanche Caddell of St. Louis MO, and his God son Jesse Carter - of San Antonio Texas.
His sister Hattie's children; Shari Lynn Davis, Angela, Kathy, and Walter
His sister Mildred's children; Helen Dodson, Phillis, Nikkila, Willyetta, and Misty
His brother James's children; Jimmy, Judy, Louise, Janet, Johnny, and Brenda
His brother Richard's children; Richard Earl, Felix, Serino, Misty, Maria (Denise), Blanche, Pierre, and Maurice
His brother Warren's children; Pat, Doris, Sandra, and Angela
His brother Charles (Sonny Boy's) children; Charles, Kathy, Wendy, and Stan
...and MANY great nieces and nephews.
A Military Service with honors for Abb Thomas Campbell will be held at Dallas Ft Worth National Cemetery on May 7, 2021 at 10:30AM.
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
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Created with love by
Sharon Campbell-Wood (Abb's daughter).
