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Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom Featured
Margaret and Bill Campsall are living proof the high road is always respected and honesty & integrity are always rewarded.
Married for more than 70 years, they are happily reaping what they sowed.
Hard workers and dedicated volunteers when they were younger, the couple is blessed with constant companionship and support in retirement.
“It’s all coming back to us now,” says Bill, a respected leader in the Canadian Armed Forces and private industry.
“What goes around - comes around,” agrees Margaret.
Residents of Helen Henderson Care Centre since July, the loving couple credits their active retirement to the friendships they made when they were younger.
“We didn’t know we had so many friends,” Bill says with a smile about the 130 guests who attended a party in Verona last September to mark their 70th wedding anniversary. “It was a good, fun day.”
Margaret and Bill laugh about how they received 70 greeting cards for their 70th anniversary.
They also see the humour in the number of boys in their family. They have a son (they are pre-deceased by two sons); four grandsons (and three granddaughters); and, four great grandsons.
“There’s nothing wrong with little boys,” laughs Margaret. “They’re a lot of fun.”
One of six children, Bill was born in Sydenham while Margaret was one of six children born to a family in Kingston Township.
Bill met his future wife when he travelled to a friend’s house.
Looking fondly at Margaret, he recalls his first impression of his friend’s sister, “She was a plain country farm girl. I’ll say no more.”
Tall with dark hair, Bill has his work cut-out for him if he was to win the heart of the plain country farm girl who didn’t pay him much attention.
“I thought I was too young for anything like that,” Margaret says about her lack of romantic interest for her brother’s friend.
The couple married when Bill returned home from the war in 1945.
“70 years and we’re still going strong,” Margaret says with affection.
Determined to live life to the fullest and enjoy every day together, the couple is a welcome addition to the Helen Henderson retirement family.
“We decided between us we were going to like it,” explains Margaret about their easy transition to retirement living after 27 years of living in Sydenham and 25 years of living in Verona.
“I think that’s part of the battle.”
Qualified to live in the nursing home alone, Bill looks at his wife and says firmly, “We haven’t been separated in 70 years and we’re not going to be separated now.”
Using their time to visit with friends and family, Bill and Margaret continue to value the good things in life such as health, happiness and friendships.
“We’re just simply enjoying ourselves,” says Bill who fought and won the heart of a girl he didn’t expect to love.
Margaret nods her head in agreement and notes, “We enjoy our family and ordinary living.”