Richard Campbell

Richard Campbell, age 100, of Battle Creek, Michigan died Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at home with his family at his side and under the wonderful care of Centrica Care Hospice.

Richard was born January 29, 1926, in LaGrange, Indiana the son of Fred and Margaret (Herman) Campbell.

Fred Campbell and his wife Margaret were sharecroppers from Indiana with 12 children. Bob, Bill, John, Walter, Carl, twins Nelda & Zelda, Betty, Sarah, Mary, Dorothy, and Richard. Richard was only a few years old when his father, who was looking for work, moved the family from LaGrange, Indiana to Michigan. They made it to Sonoma Lake in Leroy Township eventually making their way over to Springfield. In the summer, the family would work in the onion fields on muck farms in Olivet and pick berries at Knotts Berry Farm. When they weren't working, they liked to play Cops n’ Robbers and Cowboys & Indians. The family would go to the lakes around Battle Creek to swim and gather for family reunions.

The kids also enjoyed playing touch football on John Harvey Kellogg's lawn. Mr. Kellogg would come by in his chauffeured car, dressed in all white and would invite them to go swim in his pool, which they never did. Richard attended Springfield Elementary school and unbeknownst to him, so did his future wife, all the way through the 9th grade. To make pocket money, Richard worked for Buschini's Grocery Store on Lafayette Street. Richard only completed the 10th grade before the war changed things for him. He began working as a mechanics helper at Ft. Custer and moved on to heavy equipment until his 18th birthday, when he was drafted. He was granted military furlough from his job and started training down in Texas in the 661 Tank Destroyer Recon Division. He went to New York and then boarded the USS Seattle that took him to La Harve France in the Normandy region, a journey that lasted 21 days. They arrived at night and his first duty was to stand guard during the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.

They crossed the Rhine River into Colon on a pontoon bridge, which is where they saw the worst fighting. They lost one of the tanks during a recon mission, it happened to be his. He was responsible for the 50-caliber gun on the turret. Remarkably no one suffered more than a bullet wound.

He reconnected with his future wife Jane while he was home on leave. He was walking to his house, and they ran into each other. He was due to be shipped out again, so she told him to write to her, and gave him her address. He remembered her address once he was stationed and they corresponded during his tour, which is how their relationship began. After the war ended the military wanted him to continue as a Sargeant. He told them that if he didn't get married while on furlough, he would accept the position. He married Jane August 24, 1947 on his grandmother's birthday. The couple lived in a rented apartment that was in a converted military barracks after they were married. The rent was $27.00 a month. They lived there until they bought their home where Richard still lives, for $4,500. There the couple enjoyed living with their two daughters, Paula and Peggy.

Richard worked for the City Water Department and Jane was a Dictaphone operator at the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Richard tried to quit his job with the city four times but ultimately retired from it after 37 years as their top mechanic. The family owned a boat, and they would use it to go fishing and water skiing on the weekends in the summer. They also rented cabins on Muskegon Lake. In the winter, they liked to go sledding, ice skating, and bowling if the cold got too much for them.

In 1972 Richard returned to school and spent three years to finish earning his diploma. Although Jane had encouraged him to take a GED test to get it, he insisted that he earn it by taking the classes. He also took college courses in electronics and transmission as well as satellite courses from Ferris State.

He felt the world hasn't changed all that much, but there is now too much corruption and technology. The most amazing thing he thought has happened in his life is when man walked on the moon. His most fond memories were from the vacations his family took, and his greatest accomplishment has been being a good husband and an honest man. His favorite hobbies were gardening and flowers. He even still mowed his lawn until this year.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Jane on November 15, 2021, his parents, Fred and Margaret; two brothers-in-law, Jim Norman and Tom Bishop. Surviving are two daughters, Paula M. (Gerald) Casterline of Coldwater, Peggy E. Bishop of Sherwood; three grandchildren, Jodi (Mark) Cross, Tom (Jamie) Bishop, Jr., Ben (Mandy) Bishop; extra grandchildren, Stephen (Debbie) Casterline, Jade (Ben) Duncan, Mike (Kim) Presley; great-grandchildren Alexandra (Jeremy Joseph) Cross, Jace (Shayla Bouverette) Bishop, Taylor (Jaylen) Heagney, Sabrina Cross, Elizabeth Cross, Audriella Cross, Maddox Cross, Samuel Cross, Zach (Adah Gaborik) Bishop, Kassidy (Griffin Fortney) Bishop; great great-grandson, Dominique and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and their families.

His advice to the younger generation is, “be truthful in everything you do. Love and don't hate, and don't keep a grudge.”

Friends will be received 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday, November 14, 2026 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care. Following the visitation, a procession will follow to Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens Chapel, where military honors and a service will be held beginning approximately 12:45 p.m. Richard will be laid to rest next his wife, Jane.

Memorial contributions may be made to Centrica Care Hospice. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.