Clara Guinn Campbell

Clara Guinn Campbell was born at home in Palestine, Texas on March 13, 1914 and died at home in Abilene on December 16, 2009. Her long life was crowned by love of family, service to others, worship in the Episcopal Church and having fun with friends. She was blessed with health and good spirits and seemed always to be in a good mood. Clara moved with her family from Palestine to Abilene at age 12. She graduated from Abilene High in 1930 and from Hardin-Simmons University, then Simmons University, in 1934. She was head cheerleader at Simmons, where she majored in chemistry and minored in biology. She taught school for four years after graduation, first at Benjamin, then at Ballinger. In 1938 she married her childhood sweetheart, T.C. Campbell, and in 1944 her only child, Sarah, was born. Clara joined the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest at the age of 16 and immediately began teaching Sunday school to children only slightly younger than herself. She taught Sunday school at the church for over 50 years and defined "Sunday school teacher" for generations of Heavenly Rest kids. She always had a keen affection for and interest in children and young people. When her husband owned the local Pepsi bottler, she kept a coin-free soft drink dispenser in the garage to encourage the neighborhood kids to pay her a visit. Service was an essential part of her understanding of life. Her attitude was that you could chase dirt around a house all day and still not get it clean, so it was important to start the day by doing something for others. She worked on the Goodfellows for years, serving twice as chairman. She was cofounder and third president of the Junior League of Abilene. She served on the Child Welfare Board, the Abilene Public Library Board and the Community Chest. However, her enduring interest was serving people with mental disabilities. She worked with the Volunteer Services Council of the Abilene State School from the 1950's to the late 60's, ultimately contributing over 3,500 hours of service. She did everything from chairing the council to playing tag with residents at weekly social gatherings. She served first on the Mayor's Committee on Mental Retardation, then on the Governor's Commission on State Schools and Special Hospitals. At that time, children and adults with mental retardation, epilepsy, mental illness, blindness and deafness might be housed together. Her work was instrumental in beginning the process of placing people with similar disabilities together and providing appropriate programs. In 1968 the Exchange Club honored her with the Golden Deeds award. Clara's legacy of direct service to those in need is her richest and most vital gift to her family; they will honor her spirit by continuing her work. Clara and T.C. were married for over 68 years. They enjoyed getting together with friends, travel, and ranching during their long marriage. In 1979 they founded The Campbell Foundation as a vehicle for outreach, with a special interest in the Episcopal Church, local education and arts organizations and local programs for relief and development. In 2006 they established a Clara G. Campbell Scholarship in science and mathematics at Hardin-Simmons. T.C. preceded her in death in 2007. Following his death, Clara insisted on remaining in her home and enjoyed a quiet life of flowers, church, beauty parlor, rides to Buffalo Gap and visits from family and friends. Her family extends special thanks to the friends who made this life possible, especially Sally and Dick Orsini, Carla and Scott Dueser, Loretta Pavell, Travis Lover, Cheryl Morris, and Dr. B.J. Estes. The family is also so appreciative of the faithful, tender care by the ladies from Home Instead who kept her safe and comfortable, especially Rhonda, Olivia, Lisa and Kelly. Their care and the ministry of Hendrick Hospice allowed her to end the life she loved with the death she wanted. In addition to her husband, Clara was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister Jane Guinn Kinard. She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Campbell and her husband Charles Webb of Austin, and by her granddaughters, Jody Chang and her husband Curtis of San Jose CA, and Emily Palit and her husband Tapash Palit MD of New Orleans LA, and by her great-granddaughters Mei-Mei and Ellie Chang of San Jose and Phoebe and Maya Palit of New Orleans. Other survivors are her niece Janet Kinard Heyne of Houston and her nephew James C. Kinard of Columbus OH. Funeral services will be Tuesday January 5 at 3 p.m. at the Church of the Heavenly Rest 602 Meander, with the Reverend William Wright, interim rector, officiating; inurnment of ashes will follow immediately in the church's columbarium. Pall bearers will be Scott Dueser, Dr. B.J. Estes, Brice Fowler, Travis Lover, Dr. Richard Orsini and John Stowe. Following the service there will be a reception at the family home at 1251 Elmwood Drive. There will also be a visitation Monday evening at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, from 5 to 7 p.m. Instead of flowers, the family requests that you honor Clara's legacy with a gift to the Church of the Heavenly Rest, where she was a member for nearly 80 years, to the Junior League of Abilene, to Hendrick Hospice or to a charity of your choice. "For it is in giving that we receive, and in dying that we are born to eternal life."