Dorothy Elrod

Dorothy I. Swanson Campbell Elrod passed away at her East Ridge home early Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at the age of 94. Dot, born on September 22, 1922 in Young Harris, Georgia, was the youngest of nine children born to Judson and Carrie Parker Swanson. After spending many years caring for her mother, Dot moved to Chattanooga shortly after World War II, where she worked to put herself through cosmetology school. She was the owner and operator of Dot’s Beauty Shop, which was located on 44th St. in Chattanooga, and for many years when her children were young she was well known in the area as a wedding caterer and cake decorator. Dot married World War II veteran Archibald Argyle Campbell of Maury County on November 7, 1953, and together they raised three children. After retirement from the catering business, Dot stayed busy with her church activities at Ridgedale Baptist Church where she was a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class, and helped care for her six grandchildren, whom she loved dearly. During the last few weeks of her life, Dot’s children arranged for her to return to the East Ridge home that she loved, where she died peacefully in her sleep with her family at her side. Dot was preceded in death by her husbands, Argyle Campbell and Wilbur Elrod; her parents and all of her siblings, including, most recently, her beloved sister Edith. She is survived by her sons, Timothy Campbell and his wife Susan of Tullahoma, and Bruce Campbell and his wife Joan of East Ridge; her daughter Janet Campbell Bradley and her husband Scott of Chattanooga; her grandchildren Shelley Campbell of Murfreesboro, Colin Campbell and his wife Chelsea of Ringgold, Leah Campbell of Silver Spring, Maryland, and Elizabeth, Ashley and Jason Campbell, all of Chattanooga; two Great granddaughters, Carley Martin of Murfreesboro and Darwin Campbell of Ringgold; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 12 PM Friday at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 S Moore Rd. with Dr. Bill Owens officiating. Burial will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 PM Thursday and from 11 AM to 12 PM Friday at the funeral home. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the friendship Sunday School Class of Ridgedale Baptist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundation 209 10th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37203 or to Ridgedale Baptist Church 1831 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421.