Obituary : Marsha M. Campbell
Marsha Miller Campbell was born in New Albany, Ind., on Jan. 30, 1943 to Ben and Lila Miller.
She attended Indiana University where she was working at the University Medical Center when she met John Campbell, a student at Lincoln Chiropractic College (LCC) in Indianapolis.
They were wed in September of 1969, following John's graduation from LCC. They moved to western Massachusetts where Marsha worked at Wesson Maternity Hospital in the records department while supporting her husband in setting up a practice. She then held a position as assistant to the head of the Black Studies Department at Mt. Holyoke College.
Seven years later, on July 7, 1977, Marsha and John moved to Martha's Vineyard.
As office manager for 30 years at the chiropractic office, Marsha greeted all patients and visitors with her signature rich voice, welcoming all with kind words and a compassionate heart. Her early-morning appointment reminder calls will be missed.
During her life on the Vineyard, Marsha offered an uplifting presence and a gentle voice at many charitable events. She was a member of the board of the Martha's Vineyard Community Services and served on the fundraising committee for eight years. She co-chaired the Possible Dreams Auction in 1983 and chaired that event in 1984. She also served on the Hospice board of directors and co-chaired the Hospice auction and was the inspiration for naming the seasonal event "The Summer Soirèe." Marsha served on the auction committee for VNA for several years. She took over the fundraising reins of the VNA fundraising clambake and auction at the Field Gallery after the death of Sharon von Mehren. Marsha was an honorary board member of the VNA.
Marsha's organizational skills are legendary. Her ability to include everyone in her network of connections and to quietly recruit volunteers and donors from all walks of life were the keys to her success in reaching the goals of the organizations that she served.
Her love of the people of the Vineyard was a sustaining thread in her life and her charitable work was a manifestation of that love. She continued volunteering until she and John moved to Florida in 2007.
As a friend, she was steadfast, compassionate, and unpredictably mischievous. She was truly one in a million. How we will miss the luster and warmth of her presence and ready smile, and the kindness of her heart.
Marsha leaves her husband, John, and their beloved Yorkshire Terrier, Puddin', of Port Orange, Fla.; her father and mother, Ben and Lila Miller and her brother, Alan Miller, and family of Wisconsin; her sister, Leslie Wills, and family, her Aunt Julie Miller of Michigan; numerous nieces and nephews and grandnephews and grandnieces; her mother-in-law, Mrs. Betty Campbell, and her sisters-in-law and their families: Honour Foley of Rehoboth; Bonnie Lass of Barrington, R.I.; and Lisa Ricci of Springfield.
A memorial mass will be held for Marsha at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Oak Bluffs on June 11 at 11:30 am. A reception will follow.
An additional memorial mass will be said by Father John Gomes at St. Mary's in South Dartmouth on Saturday, June 14, at 11 am. Visit masstimes.org for directions.
