Henry Woodruff Campbell, Jr.

Henry Woodruff Campbell Jr transitioned from his earthly home to his heavenly home with our Lord Jesus Christ on Feb 03, 2023. He was born on May 19th, 1925 in Halstead, Mississippi to Iva and Henry Campbell in their family home. He was ready to leave this earth at the ripe age of 97, with no illness, in total peace and surrounded by loved ones.  He was a protector and giver all his life.

With parental permission, he joined the marines at the age of 17 and served during WWll. He was in the infantry of the 9th marines, 3rd marine division, HQ company in the battle of Iwo Jima. He also served in the Occupation of China, patrolling on the road to Tientsin, during the efforts to protect Chinese citizens from the communist party. He was honorably discharged to Pensacola, FL  and returned home to farm the Mississippi Delta where he was born and raised. He married Billie Jean Maddox and was later blessed with a daughter. He decided he wasn’t going to get rich farming, so he invested in further education.

His passion for learning led him to seek a Bachelor’s Degree at Mississippi State University. He graduated, in three years, with a mechanical engineering degree. He did this, all while continuing to tend to his family, farm full time and drive a delivery truck for Wonder Bread Co.  He began working as a civil engineer with The Army Corp of Engineers and continued service to our country for several years in Mississippi and then Washington D.C for the majority and remainder of his career.

He retired in 1985 to Solomon’s Island, MD with his then wife Frances and became a doting Papaw. In 1990 he brought his family to Pensacola, FL, and joined the First United Methodist Church where he has been a member for 32 years. He loved to laugh, he was a painter, sailor, farmer, culinary explorer and baker of all things sourdough, a woodworker, a mechanic and builder who could fix anything! He had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. He played drums, clarinet, guitar, and he was an exceptional whistler. Despite hard labor, he had the softest hands, and for a time used them in the First United Methodist Church handbell choir. His mind was brilliant, and he was always thinking of his loved ones. He knew the right way to do most anything and poured all he knew into those who took the time to listen. He is loved beyond measure.

He is proceeded in earthly departure by his wife Frances Cross Campbell of 40 years before her untimely passing, mother Iva Salley Campbell, and father Henry W Campbell Sr.  He leaves in our Lord’s care his wife Betty Nation Campbell of 16 golden years, sister Norma Jean Medders, daughter Belinda Campbell Thompson, granddaughter Virginia Anne Bates and husband Alan D Bates, and great grand son Canon Kodesh Immanuel Bates, as well as nieces and nephews: Debbie (Michael) Christmas, Hanny Medders, and Memrie Medders, along with great nieces and nephews, great great nieces and nephews, and many family members incuding Todd (Amy) Cockroft, as well as many many loved ones. A memorial service was held at the First United Methodist Church, 6 E Wright St. Pensacola FL, on Sunday Feb. 19th @ 3:00 pm.