Memorial
Dorothy Campbell died February 23rd, 2015 in the company of her family. A reception honoring her life will take place Sunday, March 8th from 2PM to 4PM at the Campbell Steele Gallery in Marion.
Born July 13th, 1925 to Erma and Howard Buck, Dorothy Jean spent her girlhood on the family farm outside of Melbourne, Iowa. She helped with her mother’s bountiful garden, “walked the beans” of her father’s fields, and shared the chores of tending to farm animals. It was a time plunged in the depths of our nation’s “Great Depression”, before rural electrification, and for the Buck’s, as with many farm families, before indoor plumbing. Nonetheless, it was an exhilarating life that nurtured Dorothy’s work ethic and her gusto for sharing fun. As captain of her high-school basketball team, she and her teammates won the state championship, and during World War II, she interrupted her education to work in a munitions factory.
On October 2nd, 1946 Dorothy married Ted Campbell in Marshalltown, Iowa. After a couple of early moves, they settled in Cedar Rapids to work and raise their four children. Ted passed away on February 11th, 2001.
As with so many women of the post-war era, Dorothy was a working mother. Her career blossomed with the advent and exciting growth of Lindale Plaza, where she worked for many years, perhaps most importantly at “The Record Shop”. Her enthusiasm for retail sales led to happiness and success.
A busy career, however, never eclipsed the joy of helping each of her children’s families. She made family trips to Germany, welcomed the adoption of a lovely newborn granddaughter, assisted with her children’s business ventures, and served as honorary “Ticket & Cigarette Girl” for Liars Holographic Radio Theatre. Hers was an ever-varied and rich life.
Dorothy’s survivors include her children, her children’s children, and her children’s children’s children; Linda Stickle and her husband Don; Linda’s daughter Carrie Williams and her Don; and Carrie’s daughters, Olivia and Camille; as well as Linda’s son, Ryan Oldfather and his wife, Trisha. Mike Campbell and his kids; Rob and his wife, Marguerite and their son, Teddy; and Mike’s daughter, Laura Ritchie and her husband, Tony, and their son, Karl. Craig Campbell and his wife, Priscilla Steele and their children; Maggie and her husband Matt Raw, and their daughter, Charlotte; Charlie and his wife Mary O’Connell and her son, Roan; Willa and her husband Matt Gregg and their son, Tucker Cruz. Janet Bennett and her husband Dave and their daughter, Maia. In addition to her children, Dorothy is survived by her sister, Marilyn Nobriga and her husband, Cliff.
Our family would like to thank all of Dorothy’s friends at Trinity Pointe, and there are not sufficient words to express our appreciation for the work of the people from Unity Point Hospice. Jill, Becky, and Bobby-Joe brought skill, patience, and an unlimited compassion with each visit. We are deeply grateful.
Dorothy loved music, in particular, the music of Les Miz.
“There's a grief that can't be spoken
There's a pain goes on and on …”
but also this …
“A heart full of love, a heart full of song.”