John E. Campbell Sr., 82, a resident of Gilford, N.H., and Englewood, Fla., and a former longtime resident of Dracut, Mass., passed away Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, Fla.

He was born in Lowell, Mass., Oct. 14, 1930, the son of Joseph A. and Margaret (nee McNamara) Campbell.

John was the beloved husband of Bernadette T. (nee Donahue) Campbell, with whom he would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary later this year. He humbly served our nation as a member of the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, and was stationed with the Combat Engineers as an instructor at West Point, N.Y. Upon his honorable discharge, he worked for the town of Dracut as a social worker. John later joined Raytheon Company Missile Systems Division in Lowell, where he worked for 37 years in the Human Resource department, retiring in 1992 as Manager of Industrial Relations. John was a dedicated human resource professional. He took that passion beyond his office at Raytheon, and was involved with the Greater Lowell Personnel Council, the Personnel Board at St. John’s Hospital in Lowell, and the Lowell Chamber of Commerce. John lived in Dracut for well over 50 years. He was involved in town activities, serving both on the Dracut Finance Committee, as well as on the Dracut Cemetery Commission. John also had a passion for helping others, which led to his involvement in many charitable and nonprofit organizations. He was a member of the Catholic Charitable Bureau, St. Vincent de Paul, the Elks, the Knights of Columbus, and a board member of The Salvation Army of Lowell. John was a loving, caring, hardworking man. He enjoyed boating, golfing, wood refinishing, cooking and the everyday beauty of nature. John loved the sunsets over Englewood Beach, and watching the sunrise over Lake Winnipesaukee. He was happiest when he was surrounded by his family.

In addition to his wife, John is survived and will be deeply missed by his children, Susan M. (Michael) LaChance of Punta Gorda, Fla., John E. (Audrey) Campbell Jr. of York, Maine, Bernadette M. Campbell of Webster, N.H., Joseph C. Campbell of Dracut, and Steven A. (Jo Ann) Campbell, also of Dracut; cherished grandchildren, Stacey, Jennifer, Meghan, Joseph, Micaelagh, Shannon, John and Katheryn Campbell; and siblings, Mary (Francis) Graham, James (Anita) Campbell, Walter (Joanne) Campbell, Katherine (Michael) Romanowski, Patricia (John) Boumil, Margaret (Richard) Melanson and Robert (Linda) Campbell. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph A. Campbell.

Memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, Hope through Heroes Memorial at www.arthritis.org; or to The Salvation Army at www.salvationarmy.org. To leave an online condolence, story or message, please visit www.dracutfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are by Dracut Funeral Home, Dracut.