Eleanor Battey Campbell, 94, of Jefferson, passed away on Feb. 1 at the Augusta Center for Health and Rehabilitation.
She was born in Providence, R.I., the second of seven children of Raymond A. and Helen P. Battey of Greenville, R.I., where she grew up. She was the widow of the late David Campbell, who passed away in December 2014. They would have celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary this month.
Eleanor was trained as a secretary, and worked in a variety of offices. She was also an accomplished poet who wrote several hundred poems, especially about family life, gardening, and nature. She was a self-taught pianist.
She and David moved to Jefferson from Charlestown, R.I. in 2001. They were active members of the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle where they sang in the choir and served on the Library Committee, among other activities. They also sang with Tapestry Singers for several years.
When Eleanor was 20 years old, she married Everett W. Inman, also of Greenville, with whom she had two daughters, Janice and Cheryl. Everett died in 1952.
In 1954, she married David, whom she had met when they worked in the same U.S. Defense Department office in Providence. David adopted the two little girls, and the couple had five more children.
David and Eleanor lived in Cranston, R.I. for three years; Newton, Mass. for 10 years; then in Andover, Mass. from 1967 to 1993, where Eleanor was school secretary at the Bancroft School while David continued to work for the Defense Department. They were active members of West Parish Congregational Church in Andover. Eleanor wrote “West of the Shawsheen,” a history of the church, published in 1975. In 1993, the couple moved to Charlestown, R.I.
She was predeceased by son, Glenn Campbell of North Conway, N.H., in 2010.
Eleanor is survived her children and their families: Janice Lindsay of Damariscotta, Cheryl DiTucci of Webster, N.Y., David Campbell Jr. of Brookline, Mass., Douglas Campbell of Cape Elizabeth, Andrew Campbell of Brookfield, N.H., and Catherine Campbell of Damariscotta; 16 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; brother, Alanson Battey; sister, Elaine Catlow, both of Greenville, and their families; as well as the families of her brothers and sister who predeceased her: Ralph Battey, Milton Battey, and Shirley Eagleson, all of Greenville, and Leslie Battey of Fenton, Mich.
A private burial will be held for her and David in the spring. A memorial service for both David and Eleanor will be held at 1:30 p.m., Sat., April 18 at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle.
The family suggests that those who wish to honor Eleanor’s memory by making a donation, might consider a contribution to their local library to purchase children’s books, as Eleanor loved children, she loved books, and she loved reading to children.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
