Richard Archie Campbell, 90, of Mackinaw City passed away on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at the McLaren Hospice House in Cheboygan. Richard was born in Harbor Springs on October 10, 1930, the son of John and Edna Campbell.
Richard grew up in lighthouses, his father being a lighthouse keeper. As a young boy he was at Grassy Island lighthouse, near Detroit. Later, he was at Huron Island lighthouse in Lake Superior, finally at Old Mackinac Point lighthouse in Mackinaw City.
Richard raised a few eyebrows in his high school years, when he ran a pool hall in Mackinaw City for Joe Denner. He then refused to wear a suit and tie for his high school graduation picture, opting instead to wear a T-shirt. After graduation, Richard joined the US Air Force and served in Morocco and Texas. During this time he married Nancy Dagwell, his long time best friend from Mackinaw City. When his Air Force service was up they returned to live in Mackinaw City. Richard spent some time working on lake freighters before getting a job on the Michigan State Ferries that ran between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace before the Mackinac Bridge was built. When the Mackinac Bridge opened he transferred to a maintenance job on the Mackinac Bridge, where besides general maintenance he was a diver and a steeplejack. Richard took an early retirement in 1984 and spent most of the rest of his life working at the jobs he really enjoyed. He worked for many years for his good friend Don Bell at Bell's Fishery. He also had worked for the Darrow family in their excavating business off and on as time permitted, he continued that work until he was 80 years old, enjoying every minute of it. Richard was a proud member of The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and enjoyed going to Pow Wows and elder meetings and dinners.
Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy and his sisters, Jane, Helen, and Kathleen, and half-brother, Ron.
Richard is survived by his sister, Diana, sons, Ric and Steve(Debbie), and grandchildren, Eric and Shannon(Ernie).
A memorial service will take place at The Church of the Straits on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 11am. Pastor Dave Wallace will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Church of the Straits or McLaren Hospice House of Cheboygan.
The Nordman-Christian Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
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