Judith Carol Campbell Obituary
Judith Carol Campbell, 89, passed away peacefully at Woodland Terrace, surrounded by her loving family, on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, October 17, 2026, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 555 E. Delaware Ave., Benton Harbor, MI 49022, with Fr. Emmanuel Mbah officiating. Friends may visit with the family on Friday evening, October 16th from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, followed immediately by the recitation of the Holy Rosary. Interment will occur at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Lakeshore Excellence Foundation (LEF), https://lefonline.org/donate/. Those wishing to sign Carol’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Carol Steepleton, born in New Albany, Indiana, the beloved daughter of Charles and Judith (Blythe) Steepleton, leaves a legacy of creativity, learning and love.
Carol was a voracious reader and gifted creative writer from a young age. During her senior year of high school, her warmth and grace were celebrated when she was crowned Miss Lawrence. She graduated shortly thereafter in 1954.
Passionate about learning, Carol continued her higher educational pursuits at Albion College and Western Michigan College, where she successfully earned her bachelor’s degree.
Carol and Robin met and their immediate bond and compatibility were undeniable. True love prevailed and they married in 1958 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hartford. Together, they welcomed five children – Kevin, Kathryn, Joseph, James and Lisa, who became their absolute pride and joy. Carol and Robin worked beautifully as a team to raise their family. Even while balancing the demands of home life, Carol successfully earned her master’s degree from Michigan State University, all while she and Robin rarely missed one of their children’s extracurricular activities.
Carol began her distinguished 30-year career as an English teacher at Lakeshore Junior High School, where her impact extended far beyond the classroom. A dedicated educator whose enthusiasm was truly infectious, she continually sought innovative ways to engage and inspire her students. Her passion earned her the
prestigious “Teacher of the Year” award multiple times, and she proudly founded the school’s drama and book clubs. She was a devoted member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society for more than 50 years.
Outside of school, Carol’s happiest moments were spent at the family cottage at Palisades Park on Lake Michigan. While countless fond memories were made at the lake, the family affectionately notes, with plenty of humor, that those memories do not include delicious meals cooked by her. Instead, she was lovingly dubbed the master of “black bottom buns.”
A woman of deep faith and creative passion, Carol held her Catholic faith dear and was a devoted member of St. Joseph South Church, where she shared her musical talents as the parish piano player for many years. Following Carol and Robin’s retirement, the couple relocated to Tennessee, where they spent 25 wonderful years. Together, they shared a profound love for adventure, traveling across Europe, embarking on cruises, journeying cross-country, and even exploring Africa. Each excursion was a true partnership: Robin captured the world through his photographs, while Carol beautifully preserved their memories by creating detailed albums complete with her own travel log explanations.
Carol will also be remembered for her creative writing, including poems and short stories that reflected her thoughtful nature and love of language. Her passion for words remained a daily part of her life as she connected with family through their shared love of Wordle.
Carol is survived by her husband – Robin Campbell; children – Kevin (Kelly) Campbell, Kathryn Hansen, Joseph (Anne) Campbell, James (Ellen) Campbell and, Lisa (Keith) Salvati; 11 grandchildren - Erin, Sara (Kyle), Karly (Colin), Shaylyn (Chris), Nicole, Meghan (Brian), Jamie (Tom), Nathan, Hannah, and Jacob (Jovonna); and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her grandson - Craig.
