The passing occurred on 22nd June of Mr Pat Campbell from Umgola Road, Armagh. in his 80th year. He was the eldest child born into a family of four boys and one girl. Sadly, he was bereaved by the death of his brother Sean in 1989. Pat passed away after a period of indifferent health over recent years at home. Pat was a solidly built man with a genial and endearing personality. He was one of that generation whose word was his bond and he will be fondly remembered by those he encountered during his long life, especially customers on his regular coal round. On leaving school at 16, he undertook a mechanics' apprenticeship with McAnerney's Car and Lorry Dealership in Irish Street. McAnerney's was a business then at the centre of city commercial life and Pat remained there and became the workshop superintendent. Pat left McAnerney's to enter the family coal business with his father in 1959. He continued to work at the coal business up until 1996, having been joined by his brothers, Francie and Sean, along the way. Some years prior to his work retirement, he had been in partnership with Francie and diversified into a furniture and fancy goods shop in Ogle Street, which is still trading. As a young man, Pat was a Gaelic footballer of some substance, playing for Craobh Ruadh in the then popular street leagues, and graduated from there to be a regular with Armagh Harps GFC in the inter and immediate post-war era, winning Armagh County Championship Medals in 1946 and 1952. Pat also had a keen and active interest in trout and salmon fishing and in his autumn years would travel to Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo and Mayo when conditions warranted this. He would also play the occasional round of golf. He was a man with a deep and trusting Catholic faith and would lend his services as steward at major occasions in the parish. In 1959, he married the former Miss Roisin Connolly from Lurgyvallen in the city. This was to be a long and happy union producing a family of six sons and two daughters, they in turn presenting him with 13 grandchildren. Pat was a totally committed family man and his total energies were directed to their well-being. After residing in Windmill Hill from 1963-80, he made his way back to his home ground at Umgola in 1980 where he resided since. He will be sadly missed yet fondly remembered by all who knew him. His remains were removed from his Umgola home to the Church of St Malachy on Sunday 24th June for Mass celebrated by Rev John Gates. The size of the cortege reflected the esteem in which the Campbell family are held in the community. His interment took place in St Patrick's cemetery. His passing will be sorely felt by his loving wife Roisin, brothers Francie and Jim, and sister Anna, sons Seamus (London), Padraig, Brian, Niall, Diarmuid and Domhnall and daughters Nuala and Eadaoin (Dublin). Courtesy of Armagh Observer. August 2007 Tweet

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