Alvin Walter Campbell, age 98, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away Thursday February 11, 2021 at Springfield Mercy Hospital.
Alvin was Born on September 28, 1922 to William A. and Maude (Miller) Campbell in North Platte, NE. He was the 6th of 8 children. He attended North Platte High School where he met his first wife, Leona (Miller). He began working for the Union Pacific Railroad in December of 1940 as a Machinist Helper and Machinist until he joined the Navy in November of 1943.
Al was stationed in the South Pacific during WW-II serving aboard an LSM-21 troop carrier during the island campaigns. He returned home in 1944 and continued his work at the Railroad. He became a roundhouse foreman and later was promoted to District Foreman transferring to Omaha, NE. He then became a Master Mechanic and Mechanical Superintendent – West transferring to Pocatello, ID and Salt Lake City, UT. His mechanical responsibilities included the Western half of the old Union Pacific System extending South from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas and Los Angeles and North from Salt Lake to Portland and Seattle.
During that time, he met his 2nd wife, Evelyn Summers, who was working for the telephone company in North Platte. He married Evelyn (who he called “Ralph”) in 1968. Al and Ralph retired from the railroad in 1981 and moved from Salt Lake City to Sun City West, AZ, then moving on to Rogers, AR and eventually to Springfield, MO.
Al was a 70+ year Mason and a member of the North Platte Chapter. He was also a member of the North Platte Elks Club. Al had a great sense of humor and was always willing to lend a helping hand to his acquaintances, friends, neighbors, and relatives.
He especially liked his Lunch and Supper outings in Springfield wearing his special Navy hat and the restaurant patrons thanking him for his Military service- often picking up the check for his meal.
Al is survived by his children, Tom (Joyce) Campbell of Saint Louis, MO, Kevin (Maggie) Summers, and Kathy (Dave) Perry of Essex, IA. Al has 13 grandchildren including Damon (Lori) Campbell of Omaha, NE, Jamie (Scott) Webster of Hood River, OR, James (Michele) Frisella of Saint Louis, MO, Teresa (Eric) Kunst of Saint Louis, Anika (Taylor) O’Connell of Omaha, NE, Brandon (Kari) Summers of Omaha, and Adam Pacheco of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. He has 18 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. Alvin is also survived by a sister, Lela Aboe of Grants Pass, OR and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Evelyn; a grandson Alex Pacheco, a nephew, Billy Everley; and his sisters and brothers-in-law, Viola (George) Halsey, Evelyn (Earnest) Johnson, Helen (Earl) West, Kathryn (Howard) Everley, Dorothy (Jack) Davis, Betty (Bill) Strauss and brother-in-law, Dean Aboe.
Al will be missed by all who knew and loved him including his Little Buddy, Meko. The family wishes to thank his special caregiver, Terry Vert and his Springfield friends and neighbors Tom and Donna Erickson and Kathy Cooper. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 5, 2021 at Adams & Swanson Chapel in North Platte, NE with Chaplain Kathy Cooper officiating. Interment will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Nebraska. Those wishing to sign the register book may do so at the viewing between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 4th at the funeral home. The immediate family members will be there from 4:00 to 5:00pm that day.