Obituary of Clair Armstrong Campbell

***Please note there is a Denville Little League Parade that will be running by our building around 10 AM on Saturday April 17, 2010 - Please make every effort to be at the Funeral Home by 9:45 for Mr. Campbell's service to avoid traffic problems. Thank you for your understanding.*** Clair Campbell died on Saturday evening, April 10, at St. Clare's Hospital. He was admitted 4 days prior to his death from a respiratory infection. Clair was born in 1918 on a small farm in western Pennsylvania. He is the youngest, and last surviving, of 6 sons of Hugh and Charlotte. Clair's early education was in small rural schools in Pennsylvania. Clair enlisted in the Navy in July 1943. In April of 1944 Clair married Jo Tonking on a 48-hour pass. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in December of 1945 having served much of that time in North Africa. After returning from the war, Clair and Jo settled in Mt Tabor where they have lived ever since. Clair joined an electronics company called Chatham Electric early in 1946. The company business and name changed over the years but Clair and a small group of others remained constant. Clair was involved in negotiating and writing technical contracts for a number of product lines - but primarily aircraft power supplies and automobile lighting. While working at Chatham Electric and raising a family, he returned to college and graduated from Rutgers University in 1963. Clair's technical skills in electronics, and his solid integrity as someone you could trust, served him well throughout his 38 years of working in this business. Clair and Jo had three children. Their daughters Frances and Carol were born while they were living in a small house on Pitman Place in Tabor. In 1955 the growing Campbell family moved around the corner to a new home where their son Jim was born. Clair lived with his wife Jo in this Tabor house until his death. The 15th of this month would have been their 66th wedding anniversary. Clair was a consistent and selfless volunteer throughout his life. When his children were small, he was the director of the Sunday School at the Methodist church. He was the Cub Scout Master when he son was in the Cubs. He served on the Mount Tabor Board of Trustees for many years and in many capacities, including serving as the president. After retiring, Clair volunteered to help senior citizen's do their taxes. Right until the end Clair enjoyed getting outside and around Tabor. The weekend before his death, he enjoyed a stroll around the hill, albeit in a wheel chair. Clair leaves behind many family members and friends. Among those are: his wife Jo Campbell; three children, Fran Rivers (husband Peter), Carol Campbell (husband Ira Domsky), and Jim Campbell (wife Ann Grace); six grandchildren; and one great grandson.