The Cardinal Family That Used To Live In Westford

[Henry]

Hi All,

Not sure how many of you might remember The Cardinal Family that used to live in Westford.  They used to live on Route 128 on the left just before you get to the former Stygles Trailer Park.  If I remember right, the house has a bright red fence around it and the barn is across the road.  They were long time parishioners of St. Luke's Mr. Cardinal's first name was Hercules.  Marvin's wife Florence is buried up here in St. Luke's Cemetery.

Tish Collins here in Fairfax married the youngest boy, Clem Cardinal.  It is truly strange how we never really know things about someone until we see it in an obituary.  This morning's obituary had the death of a Marvin Campbell who I used to see quite often in my 35 years of travelling to IBM.  He was the crossing guard as you came off Mansfield Avenue just before the school on the way to IBM.  A very busy crossing indeed, but for many, many years, 30 according to his obituary, he took this in stride, in all kinds of weather, apparently having very few if any sick days.  Marvin was married to Florence Cardinal, so actually for all those years when I saw him at the school crossing stopping IBM traffic and letting kids across and vice versa, I should have actually known who he was.

Below is his obituary and I will get his photo up later on which I am sure for those of you that traveled to IBM, will certainly recognize as the School Crossing Guard.

MARVIN O. CAMPBELL ESSEX JUNCTION — Marvin O. Campbell, 90, of Essex Junction died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in the Vermont Respite House following a brief illness. He was born in Collinsville, Conn., on Sept. 20, 1917, the son of the late Guy and Florence (Terrill) Campbell. Marvin proudly served his country during World War II and the Korean War as a member of the U.S. Army, 1st Division (The Big Red One) and was part of 10 major battles without being wounded. On Sept. 30, 1946, he married Florence Cardinal. She predeceased him on March 10, 1997. He had been employed with Henry's Public Market for over 26 years, retiring in 1979. Marvin had been an active member of the Essex community for many years. He was one of the first members of Essex Rescue, serving over 25 years. He was Mr. Crossing Guard at the corner of Mansfield Avenue and Maple Street for 30 years. He was caretaker at Indian Brook Park for over 10 years, was a former grand marshall of the Memorial Day Parade and was a participant in Project Home for 10 years. Marvin is survived by one son, Roger O. and his wife, Julie, of Essex Junction; one daughter, Phyllis (Campbell) Kehley Sweeney of Danville; three grandchildren, Amanda Sweeney, Corinna Holden and Rebecca (Becky) Campbell; two great-grandchildren, Connor McElroy and Dylan Campbell; brothers-in-law and sisters-inlaw, Rolande Leclair of Terryville, Conn., Rita and Ray Weston of Essex Center, Walter and Rita Cardinal of Billingham, Mass., and Clement and Letitia Cardinal of Essex Junction and all their families. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. in Holy Family Roman Catholic Church with interment to follow in St. Luke's Cemetery, Fairfax. For those who wish, donations in his memory may be made to the Albert D. Lawton School, 104 Maple St., Essex Junction, VT 05452. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ready Funeral and Cremation Service, Mountain View Chapel, 68 Pinecrest Drive, Essex Junction. To send online condolences, please visit www.readyfuneral.com [/b]

[Henry]

A nice write-up this morning on Marvin, "The Crossing Guard":

Crossing guard Campbell dies at 90

By Matt Ryan
Free Press Staff Writer

October 25, 2007
ESSEX JUNCTION -- Long before he helped generations of Essex Junction students cross the street, Marvin Campbell hunkered down in the North African desert while a German jet strafed his company.

Campbell and his fellow GIs had never seen a plane without a propeller, and stood pointing at the aircraft until it opened fire. Campbell turned to a comrade shouting, "Did you see that? Did you see that?" only to find that the soldier had been killed.

Campbell survived 444 days of combat duty during World War II, including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, without being wounded. He also served in the Korean War before settling down in Essex, where he worked the last 30 years as a crossing guard at the corner of Maple Street and Mansfield Avenue.

He died, Oct. 17, at age 90 after a long-term illness. He was predeceased by his wife, Florence, in 1997.

"He was always happy-go-lucky," said his son, Roger Campbell, 60, of Essex, who shared stories about his father Wednesday afternoon. "He could have a minor flood in his basement, or a fender bender, but nothing bothered him. And I think he had the worst hand dealt."

Born in Collinsville, Conn., Marvin Campbell's mother died when he was 7, and his father, when he was 14. At 16, he lied about his age and joined the U.S. Army.

In 1937, Campbell was stationed at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester. The following year, he met Florence, but dated her sister until he was shipped overseas. Florence wrote Campbell during the war, and the two married in 1946. They had two children: Roger Campbell and Phyllis Sweeney, 54, of Danville.

Marvin Campbell hand-delivered payment for bills, always paying cash the day he received the bill.

"He had a tremendous ethic for honesty," Roger Campbell said.

After Korea, Marvin Campbell returned to the state and worked at Henry's Market in Essex Junction from 1953 to 1977 and volunteered with Florence for the Essex Rescue Squad in 1971. After retiring from Henry's Market, he began work as a crossing guard.

"As the years wore on, he became kind of semi-legendary," Roger Campbell said. "Moms would bake him cookies."

Peter Gustafson, village trustee and teacher at Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School, said students noticed Campbell missing from his post this fall.

"This is a walking school, so a great deal of our kids have been crossed by him for years, and their parents, too," Gustafson said. Students are signing condolence cards for the family, he said, to thank the man who shoveled sidewalks for them during the winter.

"It was those little things he didn't have to do, but he did," Gustafson said.

After Florence died, Campbell remained positive, his son said, and learned for the first time to cook for himself.

"He had a good sense of humor up to the end," Roger Campbell said.

Campbell enjoyed gardening, collecting coins and participating in Essex's annual parade, although he preferred riding his bike through the procession to riding in a limo as the grand marshal.

"He was proud, but not a braggart," Roger Campbell said. "His war tales seemed to minimize his efforts."

Campbell's efforts included clearing a minefield on D-Day. He earned a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars and a Good Conduct Medal for his military service.

Contact Matt Ryan at 651-4849 or mryan@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com