Marian H. Campbell, born Oct 1921 in South Lebanon, OH
passed away peacefully on August 24, just shy of celebrating her 101st
birthday. A graduate of Stivers High School, Marian later went on to get her
teaching degree at Miami University (OH) while already being employed as a
teacher for 4 years and finishing her degree at night. She worked her entire
career at Trotwood Madison High School and impacted the lives of many students
as a vocational coordinator – often getting stopped on the streets or at stores
to be given hugs by her adoring students many years later.
In her retirement, stayed incredibly active as a volunteer
at the Victoria Theater, and as a docent at the Dayton Art Institute, where she
was honored with emeritus status after many years of leading tours with
countless school aged students teaching them how to truly appreciate art the
way that she did.
Ever the hostess, Marian was known for her love of company,
and often hosted cocktail parties with her friends and family at her beloved
home in the Oregon District. She took great pride in her home and our city’s
history and graciously opened her doors as part of the Oregon District
Historical Society’s Christmas Tours. Later in life, she hosted many friends,
both new and old, in her apartment at 10 Wilmington Place.
Her family and friends will remember her for her love of all
things dazzling and beautiful, especially art, flowers, and a perfectly
polished, fashionable ensemble. A master storyteller, Marian captivated her
audiences when she retold the magnificent tales of the gigantic life she lived.
Marian was always looking for a reason to pull out her most glamourous jewels
and dresses, and while she certainly looked like “a million bucks,” some of her
favorite stories to tell were of the lengths she went to find those treasures
at a great bargain. She often joked that she wanted her gravestone to read:
“She tried to be fancy.”
Faithfulness and loyalty were two of Marian’s core values,
so it’s no surprise how deeply her love for dogs ran. The many stray dogs that
found their way to her were some of her most true and loyal friends, just as
she was to them, and undoubtedly greeted her with an overdue welcome.
Above all else, Marian believed in the goodness of people
and served as a shining example of how to live life with open arms and a loving
heart, always willing to take in family and friends when they were in need, and
extending her help and her home when the people she loved needed it most. Mere
words simply cannot capture how much she will be missed.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Captain
Robert J. Campbell, U.S.N.R. (Ret.), parents EJ and Ruby, brother Justin
(Connie), and sisters Marge (Ted) & Betty (Rudy), Goldie and her many other
faithful dogs. Marian is survived by her sons, Robert J. Campbell III and
Douglas (Jeanne) Campbell, by her grandchildren, Scott (Patricia), Kelly
(Summer), and Robert IV, and her great grandchildren, Lauren and Colin. She is
also survived by her former daughter-in-law, Heidi (Phil) Campbell, nephew Greg
(Katie) Pugliese and their children Joseph and Monica, nephew Jon (Patricia)
Brazelton and his children Lisa, Tony, and Adrienne, nephew EJ (Cindy) Haberer,
niece Barbara (Michael) Hopkins and her children Jeff and Matt.
We will honor and celebrate the life of this incredible
woman, with one last toast in her honor for family and friends at The Trolley
Stop 530 E 5th St, Dayton, OH on
October 2, 2022 from 4-6pm. RSVP appreciated but not required: Kelly: 937-907-0168
(call or text).
In lieu of flowers, the family
asks that memorial donations be made with SICSA or The Humane Society of
Greater Dayton, in her honor.