Charles 'Charlie' H. Campbell

RUTLAND – Charles Harrison Campbell, 79, died peacefully at home on Thursday November 26th.  He was the son of Lloyd H. Campbell and Alice (Remily) Campbell; grandson of State Representative Charles J. and Edith M. (Smith) Campbell. He leaves his wife of 56 years, Barbara Jean (Benham); three children, Mark H Campbell and wife, Cara, Marcia J. Lajoie and husband, Steve, Melissa C. Calender and husband, Alec; seven grandchildren, Lindsey (Campbell) Drawbridge and husband, Tanner, Megan Campbell, Rebekah Lajoie, Joshua Lajoie, Anastasia Lajoie, Charles (CJ) Calender, and Maggie Calender. He also is survived by several nieces and nephews. In his youth, Charlie was a star athlete and one of fourteen students from the last graduating class of Rutland High School in 1954. He attended FSC and carried on with his strong athletic ability participating in 3 sports and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Charlie’s passion for soccer began at FSC when he scored the winning goal earning their first NE State College Championship.  He earned a Master in Education from Worcester State College in 1972. Charlie began an Industrial Arts teaching career, first at Minnechaug High school in Wilbraham, MA, then at East Long Meadow High school. Here his teaching career was interrupted in October of 1961 by the activation of the 101st Air National Guard unit where he proudly served active duty in Germany. Upon his return, Charlie resumed teaching at East Long Meadow HS until the opening of Quabin Regional High school in 1967 where he taught Industrial Arts, bringing him back to his hometown of Rutland of which he was very proud.  In 1972 Charlie began teaching in the Agriculture Department at Wachusett Regional High School until retirement in 1985. Charlie’s passion for soccer was evident at every high school he taught, founding the soccer programs at each of these schools.  In addition to coaching High school Soccer, Charlie along with other soccer enthusiasts brought the first Youth soccer program to the Rutland area. His biggest accomplishments included being inducted with his two championship soccer teams into the Quabbin Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame.  Coach Campbell led the school to two Western Massachusetts Championships; 1970 and 1971.  Charlie’s overall record at Quabbin was 53-15-6. At Wachusett High School he led the Varsity Soccer Team to the 1981 Central Mass Conference Championship and its first District III Division I Championship. Charlie was proud to live his whole life in Rutland and was involved in many activities, memberships, and community services, including: President of Rutland Recreation, member of Rutland Sportsman’s Club, member of Fire Brigade, member of first Rutland EMT squad, served on Wachusett Regional HS School Committee, 4th of July Committee member and Parade Announcer, member of Rutland Lions Club, and a fifty year member of the Rufus Putnam Masonic Lodge. Charlie was also an avid hunter and fisherman.  As an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Charlie sang in the choir, was a member of Open Door Koininia, and enjoyed Thursday morning “prayer” meetings.  For 25 years, Charlie was a member of the National Ski patrol, patrolling at Pine Ridge in Barre, MA and Wachusett Mountain, Princeton, MA. Following a stroke in 1994, Charlie never lost his sense of humor, and handled his physical challenges with dignity. Always impacting the lives of those he touched in a positive manner, he will be dearly missed.  The Campbell Family wishes to thank the Doctors and nurses who so lovingly cared for him, especially the staff in the ICU unit at Memorial Hospital. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Charlie’s family from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00p.m. on Friday, December 4th, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. At Charlie’s request feel free to wear your favorite High School or New England team sports jersey. A Masonic Ritual will be held at 7:45 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 5th, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 346 Shrewsbury St, Holden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or WRHS Booster Club, Booster/Campbell Memorial, 1401 Main St, Holden MA 01520. To share a memory or leave an online condolence please visit our "Guest Book" here on our page.