Obituary: Florence L. Campbell, 93, Salem Native was Secretary to Watergate Prosecutors

Obituary from Full-Spychalski Funeral Home

Florence L. Campbell, 93, of Salem, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014 at the John Bertram House in Salem.

Born and raised in Salem, she was the daughter of the late Samuel A. and Marion B. (Stuart) Campbell.

In 1942, while residing and working in Washington, D.C. in the Federal Works Agency in the Public Buildings Administration, Campbell joined the U.S. Navy WAVES and served in Washington D.C. and Bethesda, Maryland. As Yeoman First Class, she was assigned to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Secretariat, where she served two committees: the Joint Staff Planners and the Joint Logistics Committee. Her work involved preparing correspondences and documents for the top war planners of the Army and Navy, including the documents relating to the planning and execution of Operation Overlord, the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

After separation from the Waves in 1945, she returned to work in the federal government in Washington D.C., where she joined the Department of Justice and worked for the Antitrust division, as well the Patent and Pardon attorneys.

In 1973, she accepted the position of executive secretary to Archibald Cox and Leon Jaworski, prosecutors for the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, and was later asked by Charles Ruff, then Deputy Inspector General of Health and Human Services, to become his secretary.

She retired in 1979, and moved back to Massachusetts and settled in Danvers in 1986, where for many years, she enjoyed her membership in the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and supported fundraising efforts of the Woman’s Friend Society, in Salem. She resided in Danvers until returning to Salem a few years ago.

Florence is survived by two nieces, Karen V. Campbell of Peabody, Ellen M. Downing of Rowley, two nephews, Brian E. Campbell of Peabody and Colin W. Campbell of Milwaukee, Wisc. She was the sister of the late Wallace S. Campbell. She also leaves many grand nieces and grand nephews.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the family lot in Greenlawn Cemetery, 57 Orne St., Salem. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. There are no visiting hours. Arrangements are by the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the John Bertram House, 29 Washington Square North, Salem, MA 01970 or to the Woman’s Friend Society, 12 Hawthorne Blvd., Salem MA 01970. For on line guest book visit www.SalemFuneral.com.