George Campbell

George Theodore “Ted” Campbell passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his children on Dec. 5 at the age of 86. Ted was born Nov.15, 1935, the only child of Edward Campbell and Eleanor Prosser Campbell. He grew up in Fayville and graduated from Peter’s High School in 1953. He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Collette Campbell, and his granddaughter, Chloe Campbell.

Ted and Betty were married on April 21, 1963, in The First United Methodist Church in Hudson. Together they raised their three children in Hopkinton. In their retirement years, Ted and Betty moved to Carver, where they enjoyed bird watching, dining out at seafood restaurants, watching boats in the Cape Cod canal, and driving the Miata sports car with the top down.

Ted had a variety of jobs over the years. He drove a candy truck, was a land surveyor, co-owned a typewriter repair business, and was a computer services technician at Framingham State College. Ted was a Mason and was master of the St. Bernard’s Lodge in Southborough in 1963. He played sports throughout his life, including basketball, baseball, softball, ice hockey and golf. He also was an ice hockey referee for local youth and adult games.

An avid fly fisherman, Ted enjoyed spending time wading or boating through New England waters. He was an active member of the Appalachian Mountain Club for many years. He participated in camping, white water kayaking and canoeing trips with other club members as well as his sons.

Ted was a wise old soul and could talk at length on pretty nearly any topic. He knew a thing or two about history, electricity, plumbing, woodworking, weather, auto mechanics and more. He was known for his playful humor, and he never missed an opportunity to present the most terrible of puns. Ted befriended local wildlife and domestic animals alike. Ted and Betty even raised an orphaned baby raccoon named Poncho. Some of Ted’s favorite stories to tell involved tales of Poncho’s intelligence and mischief.

Ted is survived by son Edward Campbell and wife Michelle, son William Campbell and former wife Kristin Wappel Campbell, daughter Heather Thomas and husband Robert Thomas, and granddaughters Rosie, Maggie and Amy. He also leaves behind many cousins who were his best, lifelong friends. Ted cherished his relationships with his family, and he will be greatly missed.

A visitation and celebration of Ted’s life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m.-noon at the Tighe Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central Street, Hudson. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mass Audubon (massaudubon.org) in Ted’s memory.