Laura Marie Camp

Laura was born in New York City on July 12, 1946, to Alvis Sydney Horn Camp and Lafayette Berry (Red) Camp. When she was a year old, she and her family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, where Alvis taught piano at Del Mar College and Red played jazz piano at various venues in the area. Laura graduated from Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois and St. John’s College.

In the fall of 1971, Laura began a forty-year teaching career at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, where she lived on campus, served as a dorm parent, and was a beloved upper school history teacher. At St. Stephen’s, Laura received the Teaching Excellence Award, an honor bestowed by the students.

The child of two consummate musicians, Laura played guitar and piano by ear, and music was integral to her happiness throughout her life. Neighbors at St. Stephen’s often were treated to impromptu piano concerts as Laura practiced in her apartment. Adventurous at heart, Laura was an avid traveler who often could be found in Central and South America or Europe during the summer, including walking the Camino de Santiago one year. Laura helped direct the St. Stephen’s summer study program in Salamanca for a number of years, teaching classes on Spanish history and culture. She was a dedicated volunteer for Meals on Wheels, driving several routes a week in the summers and after she retired in 2012. When she no longer drove, Laura worked at the Meals on Wheels central kitchen.

As one of Laura’s long-time friends says, “She was good to everyone.” A colleague of many years notes that Laura set high standards in the classroom, loved what she taught, and often is remembered by former students with gratitude and fondness as one of their best teachers. Her niece, Sydney, remembers friends and enthusiastic former students calling out to and eagerly approaching her Aunt Laura every time they were together.

Laura is survived by her siblings, Isabelle Smith, of Bastrop, Alex Camp, of Dallas, and Claude Camp, of Davis, California, and their families, as well as generations of students, on whom she had an enduring impact.

The family would like to thank Jessica Alexander of Family Tree, Janelle Holtzclaw and Deb Barry of CareFor, and the staff of Arden Courts of Austin, all of whom did so much to make Laura’s life happy and comfortable.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 22, in the St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Chapel.

Memorials may be made to St. Stephen’s Episcopal School or Meals on Wheels, Austin, Texas.