This is a post about my paternal grandparents, Thomas Floyd Campbell and Mary Elva West. It was generated using RootsMagic v7.5.5 Narrative Report feature.
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| Floyd ca. 1930s |
He was listed as a member of William Floyd CAMPBELL and Elizabeth S. "Bettie" CARNEAL's household in the census on April 28, 1910 at Knopf Road in Caroline County, VA along with Esther Evelyn CAMPBELL, Pearl Lennon CAMPBELL, Alfred Rixey REYNOLDS, and Robert L. "Bob" REYNOLDS. His age was 7, he could read and write, and he had attended school in 1909-1910.
He was listed as a member of William Floyd CAMPBELL and Elizabeth S. "Bettie" CARNEAL's household in the census in January, 1920 in Caroline County, VA along with Esther Evelyn CAMPBELL, Pearl Lennon CAMPBELL, and Minnie Ellen CARNEAL. He was 17 years old and worked on the family farm. He had not attended school in the previous year.
Floyd lived at Victoria Avenue near LaSalle Avenue in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1927. This is the earliest address I can find for him in Hampton, and was before he married my grandmother. His occupation was motorman. He's actually listed twice in the 1927 Hampton City Directory, as Floyd Campbell and as Thomas F. Campbell. The Thomas F. Campbell entry has his occupation as conductor working for the Virginia Public Safety Company on the Electric Avenue line.
He was ill with osteomylitis in 1932. He lost the lower part of left leg to the disease. He described it as starting out as a blister or bruise that they put poultices on to try and heal it. Eventually it got infected and doctors had to amputate his leg below the knee. He usually wore a prosthetic leg, but would sometimes have to use crutches if his leg became too painful or if he developed a rash from wearing the heavy wool socks he needed to protect his leg.
Lost in the mine: My Dad remembers Floyd and Elva taking him to visit their Patrick County relatives when he was about 5 (1935). He was exploring an abandoned coal mine with a 9-year old cousin when the cousin left him alone in the mine. He was lost for awhile until a search party found him. Another thing he remembers from that trip was admiring an alarm clock owned by one of the relatives, who then offered to let him keep it. Elva said he couldn't have it; but just before they left he snuck it out with him and took it home. Needless to say, Elva was not very pleased!
He was a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) employee about 1936. According to my Dad, Floyd joined the CCC and worked for 6 months or so until they said he would have to leave because they didn't think he was able-bodied enough to do the work with his artificial leg. I need to look for his employment records in the CCC employment records.
Floyd was a member of Memorial Baptist Church at 324 Newport News Avenue in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA from 1939 to 1957.
He appeared in the census as the head of the household on April 1, 1940 at 2912 Fourth Street in Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA along with William Floyd "Bill" CAMPBELL and Mary Elva "Elva" WEST. Thomas F. [Floyd] (36, born in Virginia) was living with his wife, Mary (31, born in Virginia) and their son, my Dad, William (10, born in Virginia) in a house they owned that was worth $3500. Floyd had 2 years of high school, and they had lived in rural Amelia County, VA in 1935. He was employed as a Clerk at the Transit Company, and had made $1200 working 52 weeks in 1939, and had worked 40 hours the last week of March 1940. He had no other income.
He registered for the WWII Young Men's Draft after September 22, 1942 in Virginia. Floyd was 39 years old at the time of this draft registration for young men aged 18-44. The registration form said he was born in Caroline County, VA on 22 Sep 1903, was currently living in Hampton, VA. and worked for Virginia Public Service. Floyd was described as 5'11" and 150 pounds, with dark complexion, gray eyes and brown hair. His wife, Mary E. Campbell, was listed as his next of kin.
Floyd was a member of Grafton Baptist Church at 1301 Old York-Hampton Highway in Yorktown, York County, VA from 1958 to 1991.
He retired in 1968. He worked for Citizens Rapid Transit Company, which became PENTRAN when the Peninsula Transportation District Commission acquired the Citizens Rapid Transit Company in April 1975. [Note: the information regarding the history of PENTRAN came from Wikipedia.]
Both Floyd and Elva loved to talk about their family history. Floyd talked about his memories growing up in Caroline County, VA hunting and fishing. He would talk about his Campbell and Carneal ancestors. Elva would talk about her memories growing up "on the mountain" in Patrick County, VA and her West and Akers relatives. We often spent hours talking about their families when I visited. I wish I had recorded those conversations!
Floyd's hobbies included freshwater fishing and gardening. We would go fishing when I would stay with him and Elva for a couple of weeks during the summer when I was a teenager. I remember catching lots of fish in Melton's Pond and in Gordon's Creek off the Chickahominy River. He kept his own johnboat at Melton's Pond. One time he, my dad and I went there in the winter and had to break ice to get the boat out into the water. At Gordon's Creek we would rent a rowboat and row what seemed like miles to his favorite fishing spot at a bend in the creek, and catch lots of channel catfish, some bass, and even eels. I would often help him in their garden when I stayed there. They grew corn, green beans, squash, cantaloupe and other vegetables. He and Elva would weed the garden all summer long, sometimes in very hot weather.
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| Floyd and me after one of our successful fishing trips, ca. 1972 |
He died from Alzheimer's Disease on November 19, 1991 at the age of 88 at Riverside Regional Convalescent Center, 1000 Old Denbigh Blvd, in Newport News, VA. From Floyd's death certificate (state file no. 91-042141), he was 88 years old, born on 22 Sep 1903 and passed away on 19 Nov 1991. His usual residence was listed as the Riverside Regional Convalescent Center, 1000 Old Denbigh Blvd., Newport News, VA where he spent the last months of his life. Floyd's father's name was listed as William Floyd Campbell, mother's name as Betty Reynolds, and his education was 2 years of college. He was born in Virginia, widowed, and his wife's name was Mary Elva Campbell [my grandmother]. Floyd's occupation was a Conductor for Pentran, Co. The informant on the death certificate was my Dad, William F. Campbell. Immediate cause of death was Alzheimer's Disease, with vascular disease and coronary artery disease as contributing factors. [I know he suffered as many as three heart attacks in his later years.] There was no autopsy. Death occurred at 10:05 p.m., and the attending doctor's name was M. K. Locklear from the Convalescent Center. Burial was planned at Greenlawn Cemetery in Bowling Green, VA and funeral arrangements were handled by Amory Funeral Home, Inc. of Grafton, VA.
Floyd's obituary appeared on November 21, 1991 in the Daily Press newspaper in Newport News, VA. The obituary stated: "Thomas Floyd Campbell, 88, of Grafton, a retired Pentran employee, died Tuesday, Nov. 19. Mr. Campbell retired from Pentran in 1968 after many years of service. The Caroline County native had been a Peninsula resident for 50 years. He was a member of Grafton Baptist Church and a former member of Memorial Baptist Church of Hampton. Survived by a son, William F. Campbell of Grafton; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral at 7 p.m. Friday at Amory Funeral Home, Grafton, by the Rev. Donald Stroud. Visitation following service in the funeral home. Burial at 1 p.m. Saturday in Greenlawn Cemetery, Bowling Green."
His funeral was held on November 22, 1991 at Amory Funeral Home in Grafton, York County, VA. The funeral service was given by the Reverend Donald Stroud.
He was buried on November 23, 1991 at Greenlawn Cemetery in Bowling Green, Caroline County, VA. Floyd is buried with Elva in a plot next to Floyd's younger sister (Esther) and her husband (Maynard Dyson).
Thomas Floyd "Floyd" CAMPBELL and Mary Elva
"Elva" WEST were married on June 11, 1929 in Richmond, VA. Floyd met
Elva at the marriage of one of her aunts (Dovie Akers), who was engaged to one
of Floyd's half-brothers (Bob Reynolds). This the marriage date I've been told.
I have been unable to locate a marriage record online yet for Floyd and Elva.
They appeared in the census on April 10, 1930 at 422 La Salle Avenue in Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA. Floyd and Elva were living in a rental house in the south part of the Wythe District, at 422 La Salle Avenue between Irving Street and Victoria Avenue. His age was 27, hers was 22. His age when married was 25 and hers was 20. His occupation was listed as a Trainman for the Street Railway. He indicated he was not a veteran. They owned a radio. Other Trainman and their families lived in the same neighborhood.
My Dad provided the following information when I spoke to him on November 28, 2012: he corroborated that this was a rental house, and they lived in it until Floyd had the infection in his left leg that turned into osteomylitis, which caused him to lose the lower part of that leg in 1932.
They lived at Victoria Avenue near LaSalle Avenue in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1931. They lived in a house and Floyd worked as a (trolley?) car operator for the Virginia Public Service Co.
Floyd and Elva lived at the West farm in Amelia County, VA from 1932 to 1936. This was the farm of Elva's father, John B. West. Floyd was recovering from losing the lower part of his left leg to osteomylitis in 1932. According to my Dad, while Floyd recuperated and helped out on the farm during those years, Elva taught school at [don't know name of school or location]. My Dad said he was raised by his grandmother during those years, as Elva's school was far enough away that she actually had to rent a room where the school was located and commute home on the weekends.
They lived at 2912 4th (Raleigh Terrace) in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1937. Floyd's occupation was listed as secretary to the supervisor at the Virginia Public Service Company.
They lived at 2912 4th in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1939. Floyd is listed twice and Elva is listed once in the 1939 directories. In the Newport News city directory, Floyd's occupation is listed as stenographer for the VPS Co (Virginia Public Safety Company) in Hampton. Also in that directory, Elva is listed as a saleswoman at F. W. Woolworth Company in Hampton. In the Hampton city directory, Floyd's occupation is secretary to the supervisor at VPS Co.
Floyd and Elva lived at 2912 4th in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1941. Floyd was employed as a clerk.
They lived at 2912 4th in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1943. Both Floyd and Elva were listed in this city directory. Floyd's occupation was clerk at Virginia Public Safety Company in Newport News. Elva's name was misspelled as "Eula" in this directory. Her occupation was cashier at F W Woolworth Co in Newport News.
They lived at 2912 4th in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1944–1945. Floyd was a cashier working for VEPCo. There was no entry for Elva.
Floyd and Elva lived at 2912 4th in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1949. The 1949 city directory has entries for Floyd, Elva and my Dad, William. Floyd was a cashier at CRT, Elva was a bookkeeper at Citizens National Bank, and my Dad did not have a listed occupation.
They lived at 2912 4th (Raleigh Terrace) in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1950. Both Floyd and Elva are listed in the 1950 Hampton city directory. Floyd was a teller at CRT, and Elva was a clerk at L D Amory & Co.
They lived at 2912 Matoaka Road in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1952. Floyd was working as a teller for Citizens Rapid Transit (CRT). Elva worked as an office secretary for the Gatling Brothers Shipyard. Their address changed from 2912 4th to 2912 Matoaka Road between 1950 and 1952.
Floyd and Elva lived at 2912 Matoaka Road in Hampton, VA in 1956. Floyd was a teller at CRT.
They lived at 2912 Matoaka Road in Hampton, VA in 1958. Floyd was employed as an assistant cashier at Citizens Rapid Transit. Elva worked as a secretary at Gatling Brothers Shipyard.
They lived at 106 Oriana Road in Yorktown, York County, VA in a 1-story brick house with a carport from 1958 to 1988. My Mom, Dad and I lived in this house from shortly after I was born in Jan 1955 until we moved to Raleigh, NC in 1958 and Elva and Floyd moved in. It was a house Elva and Floyd had built. After Elva passed on, Floyd continued to live there for a short period of time until he was moved to a nursing home around 1990.
Mary Elva "Elva" WEST, daughter of John Beamer WEST and Mary Evelina AKERS, was
born on August 27, 1907 in Patrick County, VA.
She was listed as a member of John Beamer WEST and Mary Evelina AKERS's household in the census in 1910 in Smith River Township, Patrick County, VA along with Akers Martin WEST and John Terry WEST. Elva was 2 years old.
She was listed as a member of John Beamer WEST and Mary Evelina AKERS's household in the census on January 27, 1920 in Giles Magisterial District, Amelia County, VA along with Akers Martin WEST, John Terry WEST, and Kathleen Virginia WEST. Elva was living with her family and her age was 12. Her birthplace was Virginia, as also indicated for her mother and father. She had attended school and was able to read and write.
Lost in the mine: My Dad remembers Floyd and Elva taking him to visit their Patrick County relatives when he was about 5 (1935). He was exploring an abandoned coal mine with a 9-year old cousin when the cousin left him alone in the mine. He was lost for awhile until a search party found him. Another thing he remembers from that trip was admiring an alarm clock owned by one of the relatives, who then offered to let him keep it. Elva said he couldn't have it; but just before they left he snuck it out with him and took it home. Needless to say, Elva was not very pleased!
Elva was a member of Memorial Baptist Church at 324 Newport News Avenue in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA from 1939 to 1957.
She was listed in the household of Thomas Floyd "Floyd" CAMPBELL in the census on April 1, 1940 at 2912 Fourth Street in Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA along with William Floyd "Bill" CAMPBELL. Mary (31, born in Virginia) was living with her husband, Thomas F. (36, born in Virginia) and their son, my Dad, William (10, born in Virginia) in a house they owned that was worth $3500. She had 4 years of high school, and they had lived in rural Amelia County, VA in 1935. She was employed as a Clerk at a department store, and had made $600 working 52 weeks in 1939, and had worked 48 hours the last week of March 1940. She had no other income.
She lived in Hampton, VA on September 13, 1953. This information came from her father's obituary.
Elva was a member of Grafton Baptist Church at 1301 Old York-Hampton Highway in Yorktown, York County, VA in 1958–1988.
She lived in Denbigh, Newport News, VA on October 28, 1967. This came from her mother's funeral card.
She was a secretary and school administrator at Hampton Roads Academy in Denbigh, York County, VA. until 1972.
Elva retired in 1972 from Hampton Roads Academy in Hampton, VA.
Both Floyd and Elva loved to talk about their family history. Floyd talked about his memories growing up in Caroline County, VA hunting and fishing. He would talk about his Campbell and Carneal ancestors. Elva would talk about her memories growing up "on the mountain" in Patrick County, VA and her West and Akers relatives. We often spent hours talking about their families when I visited. I wish I had recorded those conversations!
Elva was a great cook. When our family ate there, she would go all out with turkey, ham, lots of vegetables, homemade breads, etc. When I stayed there for a couple of weeks during the summers when I was a teenager, she would usually cook eggs and sausage for breakfast, and for dinner she would cook fish that Floyd and I had caught that day.
I remember she was also very devout and taught Sunday School at her church. Floyd would occasionally accompany her to church, but he didn't seem as interested in it as she was.
She was also a big fan of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, especially in the 1970's with the "Big Red Machine". We would often watch their games if they were televised when I was visiting.
She died of pneumonia due to aspiration and debility from Parkinsonism on May 25, 1988 at the age of 80 at Riverside Hospital in Newport News, VA. She had also suffered a broken hip prior to going into the hospital. Although her death certificate states she passed at 11:00 PM, I recall it as being in the early afternoon. The informant on the death certificate was my Dad, William F. Campbell.
She was buried on May 28, 1988 at Greenlawn Cemetery in Bowling Green, Caroline County, VA. Elva is buried with Floyd in a plot next to Floyd's younger sister (Esther) and her husband (Maynard Dyson). According to Elva's death certificate, Amory Funeral Home in Grafton, VA was in charge of the arrangements.
They appeared in the census on April 10, 1930 at 422 La Salle Avenue in Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA. Floyd and Elva were living in a rental house in the south part of the Wythe District, at 422 La Salle Avenue between Irving Street and Victoria Avenue. His age was 27, hers was 22. His age when married was 25 and hers was 20. His occupation was listed as a Trainman for the Street Railway. He indicated he was not a veteran. They owned a radio. Other Trainman and their families lived in the same neighborhood.
My Dad provided the following information when I spoke to him on November 28, 2012: he corroborated that this was a rental house, and they lived in it until Floyd had the infection in his left leg that turned into osteomylitis, which caused him to lose the lower part of that leg in 1932.
They lived at Victoria Avenue near LaSalle Avenue in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1931. They lived in a house and Floyd worked as a (trolley?) car operator for the Virginia Public Service Co.
Floyd and Elva lived at the West farm in Amelia County, VA from 1932 to 1936. This was the farm of Elva's father, John B. West. Floyd was recovering from losing the lower part of his left leg to osteomylitis in 1932. According to my Dad, while Floyd recuperated and helped out on the farm during those years, Elva taught school at [don't know name of school or location]. My Dad said he was raised by his grandmother during those years, as Elva's school was far enough away that she actually had to rent a room where the school was located and commute home on the weekends.
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| View of the West Farm main house, ca. 1930s |
They lived at 2912 4th (Raleigh Terrace) in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1937. Floyd's occupation was listed as secretary to the supervisor at the Virginia Public Service Company.
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| Elva, my Dad and Floyd standing in front of their new house at 2912 4th Street in Raleigh Terrace sometime around 1936-37 |
They lived at 2912 4th in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1939. Floyd is listed twice and Elva is listed once in the 1939 directories. In the Newport News city directory, Floyd's occupation is listed as stenographer for the VPS Co (Virginia Public Safety Company) in Hampton. Also in that directory, Elva is listed as a saleswoman at F. W. Woolworth Company in Hampton. In the Hampton city directory, Floyd's occupation is secretary to the supervisor at VPS Co.
Floyd and Elva lived at 2912 4th in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1941. Floyd was employed as a clerk.
They lived at 2912 4th in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1943. Both Floyd and Elva were listed in this city directory. Floyd's occupation was clerk at Virginia Public Safety Company in Newport News. Elva's name was misspelled as "Eula" in this directory. Her occupation was cashier at F W Woolworth Co in Newport News.
They lived at 2912 4th in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1944–1945. Floyd was a cashier working for VEPCo. There was no entry for Elva.
Floyd and Elva lived at 2912 4th in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1949. The 1949 city directory has entries for Floyd, Elva and my Dad, William. Floyd was a cashier at CRT, Elva was a bookkeeper at Citizens National Bank, and my Dad did not have a listed occupation.
They lived at 2912 4th (Raleigh Terrace) in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1950. Both Floyd and Elva are listed in the 1950 Hampton city directory. Floyd was a teller at CRT, and Elva was a clerk at L D Amory & Co.
They lived at 2912 Matoaka Road in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA in 1952. Floyd was working as a teller for Citizens Rapid Transit (CRT). Elva worked as an office secretary for the Gatling Brothers Shipyard. Their address changed from 2912 4th to 2912 Matoaka Road between 1950 and 1952.
Floyd and Elva lived at 2912 Matoaka Road in Hampton, VA in 1956. Floyd was a teller at CRT.
They lived at 2912 Matoaka Road in Hampton, VA in 1958. Floyd was employed as an assistant cashier at Citizens Rapid Transit. Elva worked as a secretary at Gatling Brothers Shipyard.
They lived at 106 Oriana Road in Yorktown, York County, VA in a 1-story brick house with a carport from 1958 to 1988. My Mom, Dad and I lived in this house from shortly after I was born in Jan 1955 until we moved to Raleigh, NC in 1958 and Elva and Floyd moved in. It was a house Elva and Floyd had built. After Elva passed on, Floyd continued to live there for a short period of time until he was moved to a nursing home around 1990.
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| Elva, sitting in the den, ca. 1980 |
She was listed as a member of John Beamer WEST and Mary Evelina AKERS's household in the census in 1910 in Smith River Township, Patrick County, VA along with Akers Martin WEST and John Terry WEST. Elva was 2 years old.
She was listed as a member of John Beamer WEST and Mary Evelina AKERS's household in the census on January 27, 1920 in Giles Magisterial District, Amelia County, VA along with Akers Martin WEST, John Terry WEST, and Kathleen Virginia WEST. Elva was living with her family and her age was 12. Her birthplace was Virginia, as also indicated for her mother and father. She had attended school and was able to read and write.
Lost in the mine: My Dad remembers Floyd and Elva taking him to visit their Patrick County relatives when he was about 5 (1935). He was exploring an abandoned coal mine with a 9-year old cousin when the cousin left him alone in the mine. He was lost for awhile until a search party found him. Another thing he remembers from that trip was admiring an alarm clock owned by one of the relatives, who then offered to let him keep it. Elva said he couldn't have it; but just before they left he snuck it out with him and took it home. Needless to say, Elva was not very pleased!
Elva was a member of Memorial Baptist Church at 324 Newport News Avenue in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, VA from 1939 to 1957.
She was listed in the household of Thomas Floyd "Floyd" CAMPBELL in the census on April 1, 1940 at 2912 Fourth Street in Wythe District, Elizabeth City County, VA along with William Floyd "Bill" CAMPBELL. Mary (31, born in Virginia) was living with her husband, Thomas F. (36, born in Virginia) and their son, my Dad, William (10, born in Virginia) in a house they owned that was worth $3500. She had 4 years of high school, and they had lived in rural Amelia County, VA in 1935. She was employed as a Clerk at a department store, and had made $600 working 52 weeks in 1939, and had worked 48 hours the last week of March 1940. She had no other income.
She lived in Hampton, VA on September 13, 1953. This information came from her father's obituary.
Elva was a member of Grafton Baptist Church at 1301 Old York-Hampton Highway in Yorktown, York County, VA in 1958–1988.
She lived in Denbigh, Newport News, VA on October 28, 1967. This came from her mother's funeral card.
She was a secretary and school administrator at Hampton Roads Academy in Denbigh, York County, VA. until 1972.
Elva retired in 1972 from Hampton Roads Academy in Hampton, VA.
Both Floyd and Elva loved to talk about their family history. Floyd talked about his memories growing up in Caroline County, VA hunting and fishing. He would talk about his Campbell and Carneal ancestors. Elva would talk about her memories growing up "on the mountain" in Patrick County, VA and her West and Akers relatives. We often spent hours talking about their families when I visited. I wish I had recorded those conversations!
Elva was a great cook. When our family ate there, she would go all out with turkey, ham, lots of vegetables, homemade breads, etc. When I stayed there for a couple of weeks during the summers when I was a teenager, she would usually cook eggs and sausage for breakfast, and for dinner she would cook fish that Floyd and I had caught that day.
I remember she was also very devout and taught Sunday School at her church. Floyd would occasionally accompany her to church, but he didn't seem as interested in it as she was.
She was also a big fan of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, especially in the 1970's with the "Big Red Machine". We would often watch their games if they were televised when I was visiting.
She died of pneumonia due to aspiration and debility from Parkinsonism on May 25, 1988 at the age of 80 at Riverside Hospital in Newport News, VA. She had also suffered a broken hip prior to going into the hospital. Although her death certificate states she passed at 11:00 PM, I recall it as being in the early afternoon. The informant on the death certificate was my Dad, William F. Campbell.
She was buried on May 28, 1988 at Greenlawn Cemetery in Bowling Green, Caroline County, VA. Elva is buried with Floyd in a plot next to Floyd's younger sister (Esther) and her husband (Maynard Dyson). According to Elva's death certificate, Amory Funeral Home in Grafton, VA was in charge of the arrangements.
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| One of my favorite pictures, Elva, Floyd and me at Christmas, ca. 1960 |
