Robert "Bob" Campbell

Robert "Bob" Campbell died peacefully at home at the age of 88 surrounded by his loving family, on the night of January 1, 2025 (officially January 2, 2025) due to complications resulting from Parkinson's Disease. Known to his loved ones as Bob, Honey, Dad, Papa, Bapu, Bobbie, Young Bob, he and his dear wife loved walking in the woods of Sandy Mush valley in the Appalachian hills of North Carolina and swimming in the pond there with his surviving children Karin, Kath, Vanessa and Doug, beloved in-laws Paul, Alex and Yael, and his adored grandchildren Torin, Ada, Maya, Belle, Eve and Iris. Bob is also survived by his brothers, Charles "Chuck" Campbell and James "Jim" Campbell of Chicago and their families. He was predeceased by his parents Jean and Cecil "Cec" Campbell, and, sadly, by his beloved eldest son, Chris. Growing up in Glenview, Illinois, he was an Eagle Scout, even being inducted into the Order of the Arrow, one of Scouting's highest honors. Bob graduated from New Trier High School, Winnetka, Illinois in 1954. He received a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University in 1959. Bob met Kathleen "Kay" Lewis at Stanford. They married upon graduation. Together they pursued a life of love and adventure and curiosity. Bob was in ROTC and after college, he served in the US Navy on the minesweeper USS Bulwark based in Charleston, SC, and with the Construction Battalion at Port Hueneme, California. Bob and Kathleen then moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to attend Harvard Business School, achieving a Masters degree in Business Administration in 1964. They moved to Columbus, Indiana where Bob took a position with Cummins Engine Company. Encouraged by his wife Kathleen, he pursued positions in International Sales. The family (now with five children) moved to Oxshott, Surrey in England, which they all loved (1973-1980). Leaving Cummins in 1990, Bob and Kathleen moved to Pittsford, New York. He worked then for Pfaudler, Rochester, NY, and later Henry Vogt of Louisville, Kentucky. In Pittsford, they made many new friends and turned their considerable energy to various ministries connected through their church Spiritus Christi: The Chiapas Project (micro loans, safer stoves, coffee imports from Chiapas, and scholarships for children in Tuxla Guttierez); and Dmitri House, a homeless shelter. Not to be forgotten was Bob's amazing maple syrup from tapping sugar maples on their farmland. Finally, in 2013, Bob and Kathleen moved to Leicester, North Carolina, neighboring the farm and family of their daughter Vanessa. Here the family gathered regularly to walk in the woods and swim in the pond. Bob's special loves were making the best apple pie and popcorn, roasting hotdogs over the bonfire, and eating his homemade ice cream and black walnut cookies. Bob was a friendly, open and curious man. He was a great listener. He loved to engage people, often whooping with delight. He loved being with family, meeting new people and keeping in touch with his old friends and colleagues around the world. He and Kathleen loved traveling too: global travel for work and fun, all over Europe with the family VW bus; climbing Mount Kilimanjaro; and visiting family in Europe, Africa and even Afghanistan. Even as Parkinson's was taking its toll, Bob continued to live his life as fully as his body could manage. If he wanted to do something he and Kathleen found ways to do it. He never complained. Bob was raised a Catholic and with Kathleen, he was a member of the parishes of Corpus Christi and Spritius Christi in Rochester, New York. After moving to Sandy Mush, Bob and Kathleen became members of the Big Sandy Mush United Methodist Church while still following Spiritus masses online each Sunday. There will be a Celebration of Life and Memorial for Bob on February 15, 2025, at the Big Sandy Mush United Methodist Church in Leicester, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, contributions are welcome to the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/ and to the Food Pantry at the Sandy Mush Community Center http://sandymushcommunitycenter.org/. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert "Bob" Campbell, please visit our floral store.