Wanda Essex Campbell

Wanda Essex Campbell

Wanda Essex Campbell, 99, of Mounds, died at home on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. 

She was born March 13, 1922, in Pulaski, the daughter of Joseph Oliver and Ethel Hennington Essex.

She married her high school sweetheart, William Tim Campbell, in 1940. They were the proud parents of two children, Tim and Anne. 

Mrs. Campbell spent her whole life in Southern Illinois, co-managing their Ford tractor dealership, golfing while walking the course, playing marathon card sessions with her friends and tending her impressive rose garden. 

She loved spending time with her family, taking her grandchildren on annual summer vacations (or later, with Katie, staying up all night reading and eating popcorn) and cooking gourmet meals. 

She will be remembered by her friends and family for her fierce independence, joy for life, generosity and her ability to make you feel like the most important person in her world.  

She is survived by her son, Tim and his wife Judy Campbell of Albuquerque, N.M., and their children and grandchildren: Lea Ellen Duncan (Trevor) and sons Jack and Luke of Costa Mesa, Calif.; and Carol Jo Campbell, and sons Nicholas and Nathan of Albuquerque, N.M., and her daughter Anne’s children and grandchildren: Amy Norris of Deltona, Fla., Tim Norris (Heather) and children Abbie Wilson (David), Lillie, Jack and Maggie of Fremont, Neb.; Marty Norris and children Emmi, Maci, Alaini and Ethan of North Bend, Neb.; and Katie Anne Smith (James) and daughters Anne and Julia of Denver, Colo. 

She is also survived by her adored nephews, Jon Thomas Henderson of Jackson, Mo., and Gary Bill Goins (Karen) of Pulaski,  and dear niece Jane Ellen Henderson of Memphis, Tenn.

She was preceded in death by her much-loved family: husband Tim, daughter Anne Norris, son-in-law Marty Norris, parents Oliver and Ethel Essex, brother Joe and sisters Verna, Dorothy, Ruth and Eileen. 

Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 1, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Pulaski, with the Rev. Doug Atkins officiating. Services were streamed live on the Crain Funeral Home Facebook page. Interment followed in the cemetery.

Crain Funeral Home in Ullin was in charge of the arrangements.

To view the obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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