Calvin Ernest Campbell, Jr. (aka: the Peanut Man) passed away on June 22, 2024, in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. He was born on September 20, 1938, to parents Calvin Ernest Campbell and Sarah Byrd Campbell in Jacksonville, Florida.
Calvin attended schools in Jacksonville where he was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Following high school, he briefly attended Berea College in Kentucky after which he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Upon discharge from the Navy, he was employed at Charles P. Taft Fruit Company, which later became Pitman & Sons Wholesale Produce Company. He worked with his lifelong friend, Don Pitman, for more than 42 years, before he retired.
He and his devoted wife, Gloria, enjoyed traveling and visited Alaska, Canada and the Caribbean. Calvin loved the outdoors including camping, gardening and, especially, building campfires using “fat lighter” wood he collected in the Ocala National Forest in FL. He was also an avid fisherman, hunter and photographer. On Saturday nights, you could find him listening to the Grand Ole Opry by a campfire while drinking some “brown” (LTD Canadian Whiskey).
He and Gloria had vacation property at Lake Delancy in the Ocala National Forest. It was here that he entertained family and friends through the years. Calvin loved to cook. His signature dish was fat lima beans spooned over a bed of white, fluffy rice or a big pot of blue crabs. He also hosted the Moss Back Invitational Fishing Tournament on Lake Delancey for many years. When he wasn’t entertaining at the lake, you could find him riding through the forest in his 1946 Willys Jeep, affectionately known as “Lil Willy”.
In 2006, Calvin and Gloria moved to Burnsville, North Carolina following his retirement. He became interested in local politics and the Hero Day celebration held each year in Burnsville. He enjoyed driving Lil Willy in the local parades. Calvin was a flag waver and always displayed an American flag at home. He was a true patriot to the end.
Calvin started a peanut business in Burnsville, selling boiled and roasted peanuts on Hwy 19 for years from his beloved pickup truck. He was fondly known as the Peanut Man, and his business evolved into delivering peanuts to his regular customers at many Yancey County entities and businesses. The peanut business provided him the opportunity to connect with the locals, which was so important to him. He had a true love of people and loved to entertain others with his stories.
Calvin was a faithful Christian, and above all, a loyal friend. As his closest friend, Don Pitman, so nicely said “if dictionaries had pictures, Calvin’s picture would be next to the word friend. He and Don met in junior high school and remained close friends for more than 70 years until Don passed away in 2021.
Calvin is survived by his wife of 33 years, Gloria Strayer Campbell; children: Elizabeth Craig (Bill) of West Jordan, UT; David Campbell (Sharon) and Christy Booher (Steve) all of Jacksonville, FL; stepchildren: Mickey Gardner (Carole) and Sandy McKinnon of Jacksonville, FL; grandchildren: David Campbell II (Marissa), John Campbell (Blakeslee), Sarah Andersen (Jordon), Allison Craig, Courtney Long (Tyler), David Booher and Addison Booher; great grandchildren: Anniston, Presley, Everleigh, Mason, Aubree and Beau. He is also survived by many close friends that he considered “family”. His children are especially grateful to his ‘Burnsville Family” who brought him so much joy. We are especially thankful for the care and love of Juanita Hudgins, Alenia Miller and their family, along with Ron and Linda Mason who helped make it possible for him to continue to live in his home, even as his health deteriorated. Being able to stay in his home, which he believed had the best view in Yancey County, was of utmost importance to him.
In true Calvin style, he wrote: “as he slid sideways up to the campfire and stepped out of his pickup truck in a cloud of dust, he said with a smile and a wink, I’ve had a helluva ride!!”
Calvin and Gloria are members of the First Presbyterian Church, Burnsville. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 20th in the chapel of Yancey Funeral Services, 378 Charlie Brown Road, Burnsville, NC.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Burnsville, The Orchard at Altapass or the Yancey County Humane Society.
