Melvin Purl Campbell, 63, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, after a brief yet hard fought three month battle with metastasized melanoma. Mel was born Nov. 18, 1958, as number three of four children to Robert and Monty (Moore) Campbell. He was named after his two grandfathers, Lloyd Melvin Campbell and Purl Moore.
Mel was proud to be a Ridgefield Spudder where he attended K-12 and graduated from high school in 1977. He worked for years in the strapping, packaging, and banding industries and traveled much of the U.S. and some of Canada for work. He loved the diversity of jobs, from hay barns to bank vaults to fishing boats, and everywhere in between.
Mel loved his family and friends as well as riding motorcycles, dune buggies, four-wheelers, frequent trips to the sand dunes, duck hunting, fishing, and nature and wildlife, especially the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, which was not far from his home. He was social, a friend to many and always so generous with his time, quick to lend anyone a hand, an ear or a laugh. He was handy and always on the go, constantly working on projects around home or fixing his many cars. He moved through his life with ease and kindness, even in the face of hardships and adversities he battled over the years, such as his diagnosis with diabetes and multiple back surgeries which came in his 50s, slowing him down a bit but he never once quit or gave up.
Mel was preceded in death by his mother and grandparents. He is survived by his father Robert; and sisters Connie Zumstein and husband Mike, Gail Como and husband Randy, and Roberta (Bobbi) McKenney; as well as four nieces, four nephews, 12 great-nieces and four great-nephews. Though he never married or had children of his own, he was an amazing uncle and great-uncle and will be deeply missed beyond words.
Mel’s celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 at Faith Center Fellowship, 11608 NE 107th St., Vancouver, Washington, 98662.
For those wishing to honor Mel, contributions can be made to American Cancer Society online at cancer.org/donate.
