William Clyde "Bill" Campbell

William Clyde “Bill” Campbell, 87, passed away on Saturday, February 26, in Cordele, GA.  William was born August 31, 1934 to the late Carrie Mae Henson Campbell and the late Forrest Henry Campbell in Indianapolis, IN.  A graveside funeral service was held at 3:30P.M., Sunday, March 6, at St. Paul Holiness Baptist Church Cemetery, Jacksonville, GA.

Bill grew up on the west side of Indianapolis and graduated from George Washington High School in the class of 1952.  He was an employee of the US Army Finance and Accounting Center in Indianapolis, Indiana for 37 years, retiring in 1985.  He served as the chief of the management division in the office of the comptroller for many years before his retirement.  He was held in high regard by the command and by his employees, many of whom cherished the mentorship he willingly provided, helping them to advance their careers with illustrious achievements.

Bill was a proud veteran of the US Navy, serving two years active duty and an additional ten years in the Navy Reserve.  While on active duty, he served as a personnelist on the USS Onslow, which was a seaplane tender, a class of ship which has since been decommissioned.

Bill also served as the chairman of the board for the Finance Center Federal Credit Union for fourteen years, where he led by example and was well respected by board members and credit union employees alike.  He served as Board Member Emeritus until his death.

Bill loved to sing in high school choruses and later as a 45+ year member of the Barbershop Harmony Society.  He sang the bass part of the four-part harmony and competed in seven international championship chorus contests with the Greater Indianapolis Chapter Chorus.  He served as Chapter President and Cardinal District President, which is comprised of the states of Indiana and Kentucky.  He was later selected “Barbershopper of the Year” for the Cardinal District in recognition of his many contributions to the society.  One of his proudest moments was singing in the father-son chorus with his son, David Campbell, and his grandson, Andrew Harris.

He was an outgoing and gracious gentleman who was loved and admired by all who knew him.  He was a former member of the Community Church (CCG) of Greenwood, IN.  When discussing his faith, he told of responding to an altar call and being baptized when he was a boy.

Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle.  He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; two sons, David (Kay) Campbell of Carthage, IN and John Estes of Tuscaloosa, AL; two daughters, Kathy Harris of New York, NY and Elizabeth (Todd) Walker of Frisco, TX; grandchildren, Sarah (John) Lafferty, Andrew Harris, Ethan Walker, Thalia Walker, Molly Walker, Jonah Estes, Gabriel Estes, Emily Ensinger, J.J. Ensinger, Michael Meyer, and Forrest Campbell; and great-grandchildren, Sterling Jessee, Bentley Jessee, Olivia Lafferty and Jack Lafferty.  Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.