Marshall S. Campbell

Marshall S. Campbell passed away Nov. 4, 2014, in Freeland, Wash.

He was born Dec. 11, 1926, in Caldwell, N.J., to Marshall and Gertrude Campbell. Marshall grew up in Caldwell and graduated from Grover Cleveland High School. As a boy, he was an air raid warden messenger, a Boy Scout and was in the high school band, orchestra, rifle team and track. He spent summers at Estling Lake in New Jersey, where he learned to race sailing canoes.

After high school, he took a job as a bell hop at the Peninsula House Hotel in Sea Bright, N.J. He then attended the New York State Merchant Marine Academy at Fort Schuyler, N.Y. After graduation, he became the Third Officer on the SS John Ericson until it burned in New York, then the SS Belle of the Sea, the SS Pioneer Star and the SS Pioneer Gulf, where he earned his Chief Mate’s license.

While in the merchant marines, he made frequent trips to Australia, where he met Avis Martin, a young woman from Sydney. She came to visit him in the United States, and they were married in 1952. He then transferred to the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Monrovia as deck officer and CIC Officer and left the Navy as a lieutenant.

After being discharged from the Navy, Marshall and Avis immigrated to Sydney, Australia, with their infant son, Craig, and soon after, another son, Robert, was born.

Marshall worked at Qantas flying boat base in Rose Bay. Later, in 1954, they immigrated back to New Jersey, where Marshall attended Rutgers University and earned a degree in mechanical engineering. His sons Andy and David were born during his years at Rutgers. In 1959, the family immigrated back to Australia again, where Marshall worked for the Goodyear Rubber Co. and then with W.E. Bassett & Associates as the project mechanical engineer for the School of Medicine and Biological Sciences Building at the University of NSW.

In 1964, they immigrated back to the U.S., living in Portland, Ore., for a year and then moving to Bellevue, Wash. During this time, he completed the requirements for registration as a professional engineer. Once again, in 1966, the family immigrated to Australia but returned to Bellevue after 11 months, and he took a job with Boeing until the 1970 layoffs.

Marshall was then hired at Richardson Associates as project mechanical engineer for the North Satellite Terminal and tunnel at SeaTac airport. He later took a job with the University of Washington facilities engineering group, where he worked another 13 years, followed by three more years at Boeing, and then he retired.

Marshall was always physically active. He was involved with his sons in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and got them involved in camping and fishing. He climbed Mt. Rainier in 1978 with his son Robert and participated in the Mountaineers climbing course with David. In 1983, he ran a 26-mile marathon with Craig and went on numerous fishing adventure trips with his son Andy. After giving up running, he took up cycling and joined the Cascade Riding Club and eventually cycled a cumulative 70,000 miles in Western Washington, which included trips to Europe, Bali, New Zealand, Canada and various U.S. states. He also was very involved in cross country skiing and served as a volunteer host at Ski Acres.

While in Bellevue, Marshall attended Westminster Chapel and Eastside Free Methodist churches, and upon moving to Whidbey Island, he attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. He was a member of the American Legion Post 141 at South Whidbey.

Marshall is survived by his sons, Craig (Stephanie) Campbell of Kirkland, Robert (Tracy) of Bothell, Andy (Terri) Campbell of Clinton, and David (Kelly) of Snohomish. He had nine grandchildren: (Craig) Kristi, McKenzie, Cameron, Annie, (Andy) Crystal, Keasha, (David) Tiffany, Ben and Shannon. He had six great-grandchildren: Aiden, Shelby, Kohl, Sophia, Elijah and Thomas.

A memorial for Marshall was held Saturday Nov. 15 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland and a celebration of his life followed.