Ralph Campbell Geeslin

21 years ago, I saw an article in Real Simple magazine about Campbell and his marionettes. After buying all of his books, we exchanged a few letters. I shared that my son was turning five soon and asked to buy one of his marionettes, but Campbell wasn´t having it! He said seeing a letter from Del Rio, Texas brought back a "flood of childhood memories." Would you believe he sent one as a gift? As an ESL teacher like his wife, I shared his books, gift and letter with every class until I...

I just learned for sure that Campbell died. He used to write reviews for me when I was book editor of The Houston Post, He was a wonderful writer and a wonderful person who I kept in touch with for years after my newspaper folded in 1995. But our correspondence slowed down a couple of years ago, and I just found out for sure that he was dead. RIP, Campbell.

I just found out about Campbells passing from a fellow neighbor. I lived next to Lynn and Campbell from 1991 to 2004 when I divorced and moved out of the neighborhood. My children grew up knowing Lynn and Campbell as sweet kind and patient people. After all it cant be easy living so close to a young family with 3 young boys! He would be a guest at their elementary school for Author day and we proudly bought his books and had him sign them. Wonderful memories of Campbell, so humble, modest...

I had no idea that Campbell had died. I just found out because my Christmas card was returned. (If he died in 2017, I wonder why last year's card was not returned.) Anyhow, Campbell was my editor at Cue magazine in 1975 and the man who sent me to Parade magazine when he knew that Cue was going under. Because of him, I got the job at Parade, where I remained for 34 years. So, because of him, I am now living comfortably in retirement. I stayed in touch with Campbell by email or over the phone...

We are so saddened of the passing of Campbell`s passing...he was a classmate of
my mother, Dene Pate Johnson and Dorothy Rice, both still living in Brady Texas... So many wonderful stories...did he finish his play in Mexico?...such a fascinating individual we will all miss.

May God comfort the family and relatives, by giving you peace, so you can forever cherish the long, life-time memories of Ralph in your hearts today, and forever. Jeremiah 29:11