CRESTVIEW — Anne and George “Woot” Campbell’s story intertwines with those of many friends and family members.
It goes back to Arlesia Rogers, Woot’s high school girlfriend.
“I knew her even before I went to college,” Woot said. “She was also from Laurel Hill. She was Morris’ sister.”
Morris Rogers would eventually become his brother-in-law — and boss. But first, Woot went off to Florida State University shortly after it changed from the Florida State College for Women and started admitting men.
Woot and Arlesia dated during college, but he left school for the service. Meanwhile, Arlesia graduated college and started teaching home economics at Crestview High School after a year at Laurel Hill School.
MARRIAGE AND TEACHING
In 1951, upon Woot’s discharge, he and Arlesia married and had three sons, Tommy, Andy and Scott. Woot taught for a year at Choctawhatchee High School, and left teaching for awhile.
But when Morris Rogers became Laurel Hill School's principal, he knew someone perfect for the science teaching position: his brother-in-law.
In 1972, Woot made another transition, joining Crestview High School's faculty to teach drafting.
“When I was at Laurel Hill, I was teaching out of my career field, so when I had the opportunity to teach in my career field, I took it,” Woot said.
Arlesia, meanwhile, had befriended Anne Campbell, a new Crestview High math teacher.
Arlesia was looking forward to retiring in 1987, but a visit to the doctor brought tragic news.
FRIED EGG SANDWICHES
“She was going to retire in October,” Anne said. “In June, she found out that she had cancer. In her last two or three weeks, I was one of three who brought her food on a regular basis.”
Anne also realized she’d better look after her friend’s widower.
“Even after she passed away, I would bring Woot lunch because I knew all he had was a fried egg sandwich,” she said.
One day, about a year and a half after Arlesia died, she got a phone call from Woot.
“He called me and asked if I’d like to have some peaches off of his tree,” Anne said, adding that she gladly accepted.
Shortly later, he invited her “to ride off into the sunset and get something to eat,” which meant a drive over to Pensacola for dinner.
She hurried to the home of a church friend to discuss the development.
“I said, ‘Guess who asked me out?’” Anne said. “And she said, ‘Who?’ And I said, ‘Woot Campbell.’ And she said, ‘But that’s great,’ and I said, ‘But you don’t understand, he’s a friend.’ And she said, ‘Well, what better way to start a relationship than friends.’”
DIVINE PLAN
Remarrying was the farthest thing from Anne's mind.
“I had been divorced for almost 17 years and, for 17 years, I had said I wouldn’t ever have another man in my life, so it was a God thing,” she said.
Woot and Anne were married on New Year’s Eve 1988. Their five children — including Jimmy and Indie, from Anne’s previous marriage — participated.
“We’ve both been blessed,” Anne said. “We’ve had a lot of fun and gone a lot of places.”
Was marrying the widower of one of her best friends awkward?
“Yeah,” Anne said with a laugh. “But it was not by choice, but by God. I was not looking. I was not searching. I did not want a man.
"But along came Woot, bringing me a basket of peaches.”
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Retired teachers found friendship, love through grief