Obera McCullar "Bea" Campbell

Obera Retha McCullar "Bea" Campbell died on Tuesday, August 8, 2017, at her home in Rogers, Arkansas. Memorial services will be held Saturday, August 12, 2017, starting at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas; and a service at Grace Episcopal Church in Cullman, Alabama, is currently being planned. Bea, wife of E.S. "Spud" Campbell, was born May 7, 1925, in Double Springs, Alabama, to Henry Thomas and Clara Bearden McCullar. She lived in Double Springs throughout her childhood and high school years before moving to Birmingham in 1943. It was there Bea was introduced to Spud by his sister. Spud had grown up near Bea in Winston County but the two had never officially met. They married March 29, 1945. The couple briefly resided in San Francisco while Spud completed his war service and Bea worked at the Federal Reserve Bank. After the war, they returned to Birmingham and had two children, Lynda and Steve. From 1960, Spud's career took them to many places where Bea was always a steadfast support, making a welcoming home wherever they lived. In 1962 the family moved to Portugal where Spud worked for Radio Free Europe (RFE) and Bea kept an active social life with a wide and constantly growing network of friends-- Portuguese, American, English and many other nationalities. Bea and Spud stayed in Portugal for seven years before RFE transferred him to Germany in 1969. During their 13 years in Germany Bea worked in the offices of the Army and Air Force Exchange Services, first in Darmstadt then in Munich, and established another wide group of international friends. In 1982 the couple retired to Cullman, in north Alabama where their families originated and many still lived. They built a house there and remained for 30 years among family and friends and were active members of Grace Episcopal Church. When Hospice of Cullman County was founded, Bea was one of the original volunteers and in 2006 she was honored for 20 years devoted service. She continued volunteering until 2012, when she and Spud moved to Northwest Arkansas, to live near their daughter Lynda and Lynda's son Christopher. In Fayetteville, the couple joined St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Bea once again established a large community of new friends. Three years ago, Bea and Spud launched a new family adventure, sharing a house with their daughter, their grandson, Chris, his wife Samantha, and their great-granddaughters, Elleanna and Zoey. The four generations sustained each other and celebrated Bea and Spud's 72nd wedding anniversary and Bea's 92nd birthday earlier this year. In addition to her dedication to the hospice community, Bea was a lifelong fan of games and puzzles and played golf as long as she was able. Her love of travel and meeting new friends, her fondness for games and her athletic ability inspired her family throughout her life. After years of providing comfort to others, Bea turned to hospice care for her final illness. Bea is survived by her husband, Spud; her daughter, Lynda Campbell; her son, Steve Campbell and his wife Nan of Denver, Colorado; her grandson, Christopher Sparks, his wife, Samantha, and their daughters, Elleanna and Zoey. She is also survived by her sister, Nell Wetzel of Auburn, Alabama; her nephew, Robert Stewart of Avondale Estates, Georgia and her niece, Anita Stewart of Atlanta; and her nieces, Patty Rau and Debbie Ashjian, both of Fresno, California. Bea was predeceased by her brother Don McCullar of Fresno. In lieu of flowers, Bea wished to be remembered by contributions to Saint Paul's Episcopal Church of Fayetteville, Arkansas and Circle of Life Hospice of Benton County Arkansas. To place an online tribute visit www.nelsonberna.com.