Elinor Clark Campbell (Ellie) was born September 28, 1938, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Carl and Gertrude Clark. Ellie loved to ride her horse, Linda, and often competed in barrel racing at local county fairs. She attended Central High School and First Christian Church where she sang in both her school and church choirs. She was also involved in several musicals at Central High which is how she met her future husband, Harold Campbell. She lived in Tulsa until moving away to attend Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Ellie and Harold continued dating and were married on August 15, 1958. Together, they had five children. Harold’s career as a minister of music took them from Tulsa to Jackson, Mississippi; Bryan, Texas; Peoria, Illinois; and San Diego, California. In 2005, they moved to Glasgow, Kentucky, to be near their two daughters. The Campbells remained in Glasgow until their deaths.
Elinor “Ellie” Clark Campbell
While in Peoria, Ellie worked as the executive secretary to the head pastor of the United Methodist Church. During her time in San Diego, she served as secretary to the president of United States International University in San Diego. In 1990, she became the executive secretary for the head pastor of Rancho Bernardo Community Church.
Throughout her life, Ellie served in whichever church she and Harold attended. In Glasgow, they joined The First Christian Church where she in recent years served as an elder. Ellie joined the choir, participated in various Bible studies and prayer groups, and served with other members in the community soup kitchen. She loved spending time being part of the church as a whole, no matter what brought her there. Potlucks were always a favorite. She was a servant of Christ in everything she did and all she encountered.
Ellie was very active throughout her life. She took up jogging and jazzercise in her early 40’s and continued yoga and exercise classes until just last fall. She was looking forward to returning to yoga as soon as possible. She walked daily with her two dogs she loved dearly.
Ellie was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 60 years, Harold; her sisters Virginia Will and Mary Whiteside; her parents Carl and Gertrude Clark; and her second son Greg Campbell. Left behind to miss her terribly until we meet again are her son Jeff Campbell (Tina), daughter Virginia Jones (John), son Scott Campbell, daughter Merry Bond (James), grandchildren Ryan Campbell (Jessie), Nic Campbell (Candice), Cortney Gutirrez (David), Carlie and Wesley Hardin; Sarah Ramos (Manny), Marina Halsema (Lucas), Joshua Jones (Maddie); and great grandchildren Kahlan and Summer Campbell, Aubrey, Zoe, and Cooper Gutirrez; Jonathan Ramos; Jude and Lily Campbell; and Abby, Ethan, and Andy Halsema; and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family whom she adored.
Please help us celebrate the life of our amazing mother, until we meet again. A celebration of Ellie’s life will be 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13, 2024 at the First Christian Church with visitation beginning at 1 p.m. Arrangements entrusted to Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home.
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