Talbot “Sammy” Campbell Sr., 80, of North Newcastle, died on the evening of June 21, 2015, surrounded by his loving family.  

Born on Dec. 22, 1934, in North Newcastle, he was the son of Wilson and Hazel (Reay) Campbell.

Born and raised in the Dyers Valley area of North Newcastle, Sammy attended a one room school house before attending and graduating from Lincoln Academy in 1952. Upon graduating and working for a few years, he was very proud to have joined the United States Marines, if only for a short time.

He learned hard work at a young age when he started working in the hayfields near his home and later the potato fields of Aroostook County. At 15, he started painting bridges throughout the state, using no scaffolding or harnesses, just standing on a hanging platform. He went on to work as welder and pipe fitter for Bath Iron Works, Maine Yankee, Vermont Yankee, as well as the Seabrook and Millstone nuclear power plants, retiring from the Connecticut Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 777.

Sammy was a strong and handsome man, who was a larger than life character. While extremely strong willed, underneath his rough exterior was a kind and loving man who was a gifted writer and poet. An extremely smart man, his love of reading was instilled in his children and grandchildren at an early age. A lover of music, he often took his children for long rides on backroads and sang the whole way. He also played the harmonica and loved to dance.

In his mind he was born a hundred years too late; thinking of himself as a true mountain man. He trapped, hunted, fished, skinned and tanned his own hides. He loved history, and was an avid collector of sporting memorabilia and Indian artifacts. He loved kids, dogs, Republicans, and his hometown of North Newcastle. He would talk the ear off of just about anybody he met. His great sense of humor, and the twinkle in his eye, will be missed by all who knew him.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by two sisters, Judith Grover and Jeannette Laura Campbell; and a brother, Jeffrey Campbell.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Campbell of North Newcastle; three daughters, Lauri Jo Campbell of South Bristol, Lisa Lincoln of Jefferson, and Lorna Cole of Damariscotta; two sons, Talbot “TW” Campbell Jr. of North Newcastle and Robert “Bob” Campbell and his wife Carrie of New Harbor; eight grandchildren, Sarah Fraser, Gabe Thayer, Kyle Lincoln, Lucas Lincoln, Tyler Cole, Callie Cole; and special granddaughters, Alexandria Lynn-Rose Campbell and Arayna Campbell; step-grandson, Logan Willey; great-grandchildren, Brittany, Ethan, Nathan, Simon, Lilah and Riley; one brother, Neiland Campbell Sr.; one sister, Marcia Hall; his ex-wife, Judith Campbell; as well as many nieces and nephews.