Ruth Campbell

Ruth Olivia Campbell, of Lafayette, Indiana, died at her home on November 10, 2010 at 3:36 pm. Born in the family farmhouse near Johannesburg, Michigan, on October 6, 1926, she was the daughter of James “Jim” Wilbert Mathews and Lena Lois (Lou) McCoy Mathews. Raised as a Scotch Covenanter, Mrs. Campbell most recently attended Evangelical Covenant Church in Lafayette. Her deep commitment to her beliefs was evident throughout her life. She was known for her quiet voice, and her kind and generous spirit. Mrs. Campbell aspired to the Eugenia Price philosophy that “commitment is never, never to be measured only by outward appearance or by church attendance or by generosity or service. Commitment can be far more truly measured by attitude of heart in the tight ugly difficult places.”In 1936, she moved with her parents and brothers to Texas in a homemade motor home. The vehicle was fabricated atop and motored by a mid 1930s four-door Nash. The family made the journey to assist her grandfather on his cotton farm. Her father worked for the railroad during this time, and Mrs. Campbell and her brothers picked cotton. She recounted how she and her brothers were taunted at school and the other students called them Yankees. They couldn't ride the school bus because the driver said they were white trash because they came from the north. The family returned to Michigan after a year. This experience inspired her to reach out to all people, regardless of their ethnicity or social position. She would always say that ‘a well-bred person is whoever makes the fewest people uncomfortable.' Mrs. Campbell was valedictorian of her graduating class at Johannesburg High School. She would jest that after all, it was a graduating class of eight students. She then went on to Central State Teacher's College in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and earned her teaching certificate in elementary education.Her first job was at Rosebush Rural Agri in Mt. Pleasant, and she taught grades kindergarten through eighth grade from 1948 through 1949. Rosebush was a one-room country school with no bathroom. Mrs. Campbell said she gained respect of the oldest boys in the class after a display of her baseball skills that she honed being the only girl in her family. Her salary was $800 a year. On September 1, 1946, she married Dr. Robert W. Winters near Vienna Corners, Mich. They divorced on April 7, 1971. He resides in Temple, Texas. She married Max E. Cornell on April 1, 1972, in Lafayette. He died January 23, 1995. On February 26, 2000, in Lake County, Florida, she married John A. Campbell and wintered in Florida until April of 2006, when she became unable to travel. He died July 16, 2008.From 1961 to 1965, she received certifications from Arizona Baptist Convention in Old Testament law and history, while living in Scottsdale, Ariz. Many considered her a Bible scholar. She moved to West Lafayette in 1968, and had made her home in the area since that time. She began working for Purdue Scholarship Foundation in 1970, and later was secretary to Thomas Loveless of Loveless Real Estate and Insurance in Lafayette.Mrs. Campbell was an avid reader, and enjoyed collecting antiques of all kinds, especially antique dishes. In past years, she quilted and produced many unique pieces for family and friends. She belonged to Lafayette Christian Women's Club, and several Bible studies and women's missionary groups. She also played the piano at church when needed. She did not know a stranger and was known to many as ‘grandma.' She did an abundance of volunteer work, helping others monetarily and with her time.Mrs. Campbell is survived by a son, Thomas C. Winters of Lafayette, with whom she made her home; a daughter, Rebecca R. Kell (husband: Mike) of Horseshoe Bend; stepdaughters, Judy Clouser (husband: Tom) of Crawfordsville, Sharon Billadeau of Florida, and Cathy Budd of Canada; stepsons, Keith Cornell of Georgia, John A. Campbell Jr. of Canada, and Jim Campbell of Florida. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Heather J. Myers and Shad Piggott, both of Lafayette, and Dr. Lindsay Hartley Shoger (husband: Brad) of Indianapolis; Jacque Clouser, Renee Clouser, both of New York City, New York, and Tom Clouser (wife: Elena) of Boston, Mass. Four great-grandchildren, Breanna L. Myers, who helped care for Mrs. Campbell, Kayla J. Myers, Raine L. Myers, and Rylee S. Piggott, all of Lafayette; numerous step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dr. Fred L. Mathews (wife: Thelda) of Dowagiac, Mich., and Dr. Thomas Mathews (wife: Sandy) of Three Rivers, Mich.; and two sister-in-laws, Shirley Mathews of Three Rivers, and Dr. Toni Mathews of Arizona.She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, David Joel Winters; four brothers, Dr. John Mathews, Richard Mathews, and twins, Daniel and Donald Mathews. A private graveside service will be held at Moorepark Cemetery in Three Rivers. Yazel-Clark Funeral Home in Dowagiac is in charge of the arrangements, with Soller-Baker Funeral Home of Lafayette assisting. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to honor Mrs. Campbell's legacy through their generosity to someone in need of a helping hand.