He was born on September 18, 1943, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. After his first years in Claude, Texas, Bob was a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge and a graduate of Catholic High School and Louisiana State University. He was a devoted member of First Baptist Church and Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Raised on a dairy farm, he never lost his love of waking up to watch the sun rise.
Bob was known as "The Button Man" due to his profession as a button and fabric salesman. He and his wife Sheryl were natural history art dealers and he continued to sell throughout his lifetime. He had a distinctive style, often seen wearing jeans, a checked shirt, and his cowboy boots. He was always ready to share a good story with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face. Bob had a passion for making sales, road trips, and watching westerns.
He is survived by his daughter Melisse Lynn Campbell; his sister-in-law Karen Wesley Holden and husband Glenn; niece Stephanie Holden and great-niece Ophelia Holden of Dubai, U.A.E.; nephew Brandon Holden and wife Jamie and great-nieces Caroline and Nori Holden of Promontory, Park City, Utah; and niece Natalie Holden and husband Morrie Eisenberg and great-nephew Quinn Eisenberg of Leeds, England. Bob's beloved poodle, Newcomb, also survives him. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years Sheryl Wesley Campbell, as well as his parents, Frank Watkins Campbell and Joyce Barrett Campbell. He was also preceded in death by his father-in-law James Edward Wesley and his mother-in-law Helen Thornton Wesley. His paternal grandparents, Robert Edward Campbell and Maude Lee Watkins Campbell, and his maternal grandparents, Thomas Barrett and Edith Hartley Barrett, have passed away.
Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church at 529 Convention St. on Tuesday, July 9 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at First Baptist Church on Wednesday, July 10 at 9:00 a.m. until Religious Service at 10:30 a.m. conducted by Reverend Larkin Harris. Interment will take place at Roselawn Memorial Park at a later date.
Pallbearers will be Chris Gendusa, Nick Haghighi, Glenn Holden, Jihad Jiha, David LeMieux, Toby Massengale, Brad Netterville, Michael Selders, Ladd Spring, Mark Spring, Davin Spring, and Bill Stephenson.
Donations may be made to the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home in Monroe, Louisiana or the Music Ministry at First Baptist Church.
Rabenhorst Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
