Elgie Dean Campbell

Elgie Dean (Robbins) Campbell, 94, of Santa Claus, Indiana, passed away on Friday, October 28, 2022.

She was born on May 2, 1928, in Walker County, Alabama, to the late Edgar and Inez (Hurst) Robbins. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Everett V. Campbell; sisters, Emogene Browning and Jewell Martin; and brother, John Robbins.

Elgie's life exemplified her faith in Jesus Christ. She lived this out in her love for family, lifelong learning, and volunteerism with an industrious work ethic. She was dedicated to her churches, which included in her adult years: First Southern Baptist Church, Hammond, Indiana; Parkside Baptist, Columbus, Indiana; Sandy Hook United Methodist Church, Columbus, Indiana; First United Methodist Church, Mt Vernon, Indiana; and Santa Claus United Methodist Church, Santa Claus, Indiana. Elgie fulfilled one of her life's dreams when she was able to travel to Israel to visit the Holy Land.

Her love for family was shown through personal creative homemade gifts that took much time and thought. Each of her children and grandchildren received a handmade quilt. Over the years, she made clothing, draperies, personalized cabbage patch dolls, homemade grape jelly, quilted wall hangings, various crocheted gifts, and more.

After leaving school to get married at a young age and start a family, she earned her GED at age 38, receiving a high school equivalency diploma from Hammond Tech. At age 55, she returned to formal education at Ivy Tech, Columbus, Indiana, to receive an LPN degree. After this, she completed a Certification in Biblical Studies through Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois.

Throughout her life, she volunteered in various community and church positions from teaching (children's church, VBS, and Bible studies) to outreach and mission trips. This passion took her to serve in Nicaragua, Honduras, South Dakota, and Red Bird Mission in Kentucky. Her favorite local mission led her to sit on the Board of Love Chapel, an ecumenical assembly of Bartholomew County churches.

Her work-life began as store clerk and bookkeeper in her parent's local store in Alabama. After moving to Indiana, she worked in Minas, Woolworth, and Zayres Department stores. She also worked at Queen Anne Candy, packing chocolate covered cherries and made drapes for Hammond Drapery. She then ventured out and started her own successful business called "Drapes by Elgie." She completed a course at H&R Block and did taxes. When she moved to Columbus, Indiana, she worked as an LPN in several nursing homes.

Elgie is survived by her children, Ottis (Denise) Campbell, Cecil (Ginny) Campbell, Van (Karen) Campbell, Wallace Campbell, Sharon (Dave) Cicardo, Clayton (Diana) Campbell, and Joy (Tim) Ahlemeyer; brother, Bill (Sue) Robbins; sister-in-law, Peggy Robbins; 17 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Friends and family will gather from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Rice's Chapel Baptist Church (1525 Gravlee Junction Road, Bremen, AL 35033). Her Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday at the church with burial to follow in the church cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date in Santa Claus, Indiana, with online viewing available.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Love Chapel (https://lovechapel-bartholomew.org/donate/) or Nicaragua Resource Network (http://www.nicaresourcenet.org/Donate).

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