Valley Voices: Campbell was 'one amazing lady'

Oswego's Virginia Campbell passed away Sunday. She was 101 years old and lived an incredibly full life.

Virginia Campbell was one amazing lady. She grew up in the small town of La Moille, just west of Mendota. She was an elementary school teacher for a number of years and taught in what is now the Little White Schoolhouse museum in Oswego. She valued education and spoke with great pride about how her children and grandchildren valued it, as well. She loved her family very deeply.

Virginia was active in her community. She was involved in the Lyon Historical Association, the Little White School Association, Kendall County Retired Teachers, Oswego Women's Civic Club and the Oswego Senior Commission. She was the program chairman for Friendly Neighbors since 1973. She was an active member of Oswego Presbyterian Church in a number of capacities since 1949. Appropriately enough, her home is the former location of her beloved Oswego Presbyterian Church.

Virginia was married to her husband, Pete, for more than 59 years. They decided early on in their marriage not to spend money on a lavish home. Instead, they dedicated themselves to traveling and helping others. Virginia traveled to such places as Alaska, South Africa, the British Isles, China, the Holy Land, Switzerland and Peru. She also found ways to help others, including her work for The Kendall County Food Pantry.

For a number of years on her birthday, Virginia would urge people to take the money they would spend on a nice birthday card and a stamp for her and instead donate that money to the Kendall County Food Pantry. She could not bear the thought of children going to bed hungry in this land of plenty. She helped raise thousands of dollars to help others. Virginia did many other things to help others, including serving as Oswego Presbyterian Church's honorary Relay for Life Team Captain. She also baked goods for mission fundraisers that ended up being the object of bidding wars.

Virginia loved music. She was a wonderful piano player and had the opportunity to play a Steam Calliope at her 100th birthday party at The Little White Schoolhouse. She played patriotic songs, hymns and "Take Me Out to The Ballgame" by memory. Virginia played the piano with skill and great joy.

Virginia took her civic responsibilities seriously. She vividly remembered how her mother felt when she first had the right to vote. She felt very strongly that everyone who had a right to vote should exercise that right.

On Columbus Day this year, the Virginia Campbell Garden Park was dedicated at the new Senior Center in town. It is a fitting memorial for an amazing member of our community.

On a personal note, I had the privilege of meeting Virginia through this column. She was a bright, warm and caring woman. She had a terrific sense of humor, was a great storyteller and had a love for life. She told me once that some people wake up and say, "Good Lord, it's morning," but that she would wake up and say, "Good Morning, Lord!" Virginia had a way of making people feel special. She was an amazing woman who had an incredible impact in our community.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at McKeown-Dunn Funeral Home. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Oswego Presbyterian Church.

Jim Connon can be reached at jim.connon@gmail.com.