Matthew Campbell

Matthew Crawford Campbell, age 101, of Middletown, Kentucky, passed away after a short illness on October 9, 2023 in French Lick, Indiana. He was surrounded by family, sharing his love and cheerful essence to the end.

Matt was born in Scotland on May 11, 1922, son of John and Annie (Russell) Campbell. He arrived in America when he was 18 months old, and grew up in Cedarhurst, New York. The Campbell home was filled with family and friends, singing and dancing to traditional Scottish music. Matt played French horn with the school marching band and orchestra and sang with the chorus and church choir. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1941 and started his banking career while working as a courier on Wall Street.

He joined the Navy in 1942, serving with a PT Squadron in the South Pacific. Matt was on a ship returning home on leave when the war ended, sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge to the cheers of everyone aboard.

Matt married Donna Boggs in 1946, and they had three children, Joyce, Barbara, and Douglas. The couple divorced, and Matt moved to Florida and married Genevieve Jacobs.

He worked at the First National Bank of Miami until becoming the first employee of the Key Biscayne Bank. His genuine friendliness, kind demeanor and good humor made him friends with the entire island community. He was the vice president until his retirement in 1987.

Matt was active in the Chamber of Commerce, president of the Lions Club twice, and represented the bank in the annual 4th of July parade, serving as a very popular Grand Marshall in 2000.

Matt and Gen were actors with the Music and Drama Club, and he was famous for playing the role of Felix in the Odd Couple. Matt sang in the church choir and played trumpet in the Chowder Chompers Marching Band. They traveled to Europe, and enjoyed going to the horse track, greyhound racing, and cruises to the Bahamas.

After Matt retired from the bank, he and Gen moved to a senior community in Ft Pierce, Florida. He performed with the Barbershop Quartet and chorus at the Spanish Lakes community center and was an avid gardener. He worked at Publix, where he entertained shoppers with food samples and wore costumes created by Gen. He taught himself mime to extend the fun at work. The couple traveled from coast-to-coast, north-to-south, including an RV trip to Canada for an Alaskan cruise. Genevieve passed away in 2009, and Matt began living alone for the first time in his life.

During the next decade Matt made annual pilgrimages to visit family and friends. He helped with fundraising for a veterans’ Honor Flight organization, even riding a mechanical bull to the delight of an appreciating crowd of cheering well-wishers. At 95, he flew with fellow veterans to Washington, DC to tour the monuments and be celebrated for their service.

After a fall in 2020, Matt moved to assisted living in Middletown, Kentucky to be close to his daughter Barbara and her family. He made new friends in the community at Story Point and received support from nearby Robley Rex VA Medical Center.

Matt was preceded in death by his parents John and Annie, sisters Anne and Mary, his wife Genevieve, and former wife Donna.

He is survived by his children Joyce (Bernie), Barbara (Richard), Douglas (Marci), Kathy (Rick), Chuck (Kathleen), grandchildren Shelby, Caroline, Tammy, Michael, Angela, Christina, Lorna, Chelsea, Danny, Allison, Mariah, Lorelei, TJ, Callie, Kyle, 20 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren.

There will be a memorial celebration at his Story Point residence, 500 Meridian Hills Drive, Middletown, KY 40243, at 11 AM October 21.