Ethel Campbell

CAMPBELL, Ethel Allen was born on a Sunday, June 10, 1923, in Press, Kentucky, on Ben Smith’s Branch, in the head of a holler. Her parents were Thurman Allen and Rachel Noble Allen. She was the second of 8 children, and the oldest daughter. She lost her Dad at age 10; he was in the wrong place with the wrong person. She never got over it, she was close to and favored by him. She attended a 1-room schoolhouse to the 8th grade. They walked many miles to school, usually barefoot. She went back to 8th grade a few times, because going to high school was not an option for her. As a child, her life was greatly affected by the Rehoboth Mountain Mission; she learned bible verses and received a bible. She was saved and became a Christian. Ethel was baptized in 1949, while pregnant with Mack and became a member of the Hard-shell Baptist Church, up in Perry County around Troublesome Creek. Joyce has the memory that day, even though she was only two. Daddy held her in his arms and it was very sunny. She loved attending church throughout her life. We heard many stories about her growing up, hoeing corn all day for 50 cents, so she could buy records, like the Carter Family or the Coon Creek Girls. She wore dresses made out of feed sacks. She made her first quilt at age 9. She learned to cook as a child, fry taters, cook beans, make biscuits and gravy, and ring a chicken’s neck and fry it. Anytime her Mom would leave her with the younger kids, she killed a chicken and fried it. She married Albert Campbell in August of 1941. They were married 41 years when he passed in 1982. Albert was close to her brother; Wesley and he watched her grow up. They survived WW2, then they lost their first born, Imajean at age 5, she reacted to a penicillin shot. They had Joyce & Mckinley (Mack) and she became pregnant with twin boys, David and Donald. They came early, and only lived a few days. She nearly lost her life, and had a death experience. She prayed to God to stay alive for Mack & Joyce. In 1951, they made the move to OHIO for better opportunity, because Daddy didn’t want to work down in a coalmine. He worked construction, until he got a job at Inland. Judy was born in 1959 here in Ohio, and was always reminded that she is the only buckeye in the family. Ethel had 6 children, and is survived by 3, Joyce, Mack, and Judy. She has been close to all three of her children, and was blessed to have Mack live with and take care of her for the last 12 years. She was always talking about what a good man she had raised, and how he was her boy, even if he is 65 years old. She was very proud of her grandchildren, Dustin, Jessica, Jeannie, & Lisa. She loves each one deeply, and was respectful of the people they grew into, the lives they have made and their partners, (John, Robin, & Steve) who they share their lives with. Ethel’s pride and biggest joy are her great grandchildren; Ethan, Lily, Aaron, Morgan, & Olivia and Vincent. They made her last years very happy and fun. As she said, “That is why they are GREAT grandkids.” She was a talented quilter, seamstress, cook, and an avid gardener. She loved to read and go to garage sales. She had a scary temper and great sense of humor. She lived a good life and is already missed. She is a true beauty, a strong matriarch and a real good Christian lady. That is our Mommy, our Granny Ethel Campbell.