Campbell, Bruce Everard


CAMPBELL, BRUCE young WCAMPBELL, BRUCE recent WSeptember 7, 1927 – August 2, 2014

at the age of 86 years

On the evening of August 2, 2014, Bruce passed away peacefully at Shuswap Lake General Hospital after a brief illness. His loving wife of 62 years (Elizabeth) was by his side.

Raised on his family’s farm in Stanstead, Quebec and then later in Lennoxville, Quebec he was the eldest of four children born to Everard John Campbell and his wife Phoebe May (nee Paige). After attending Stanstead college and working a while for Bell Telephone in Sherbrooke , QC. , in 1950 he and an equally adventurous co-worker decided to head west. He ended up in Vernon, BC and started his life long career working for Okanagan Telephone Co. and BC Telephone Co. He worked out of the Vernon & Penticton offices for a few years but most of his 34 years with the company were spent here in Salmon Arm. Bruce met his wife Elizabeth Runcie (Betty) in Kelowna and in August 1952 they married and together raised three children. Bruce was a devoted father who made certain that his children (and grandchildren) had the many privileges that he did not have while growing up during the depression years. In 1984 he retired to his home in Blind Bay where he enjoyed the majority of his 30 retirement years caring for and riding his horse “Shadow”, golfing and fishing with his friends, taking the odd camping trip up into the mountains by horseback and spending quality time with his grandchildren. He instilled in all of us a love of animals and nature and that the joy of owning an animal as a pet such as a dog, horse or cat was a privilege and responsibility not to be taken lightly. Many from Penticton and Salmon Arm will remember Bruce as their hockey coach, baseball coach, or boxing coach in their younger days. He always took the time for young people and there was many a horse ride around the pasture on his gentle horse “Jubilo” given to any youngster who asked for one.

Bruce was pre-deceased by his parents, his youngest sister Marian, his brother Gordon, his only son Daniel in 2013 and his beloved chocolate lab “Dante” on April 23rd of this year.

He is survived by and will be missed greatly by his loving wife Betty, his sister Jean Morrison, his daughter Jeanne Campbell-Wensrich (Brent Wensrich) his daughter Marianne Campbell , his granddaughters,  Dr. Rebecca Campbell (Scott Karpiak) &  Jacquelin Anhorn (Ryan Graffunder) and by his grandson, Daniel Anhorn. He is also survived by his great granddaughters Roselyn Karpiak and Portia Karpiak , several cousins, nieces and nephews spread out across Canada and the US and so many  good friends.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the medical staff in Kelowna & Salmon Arm, especially  to those nurses and care-aides who made that extra effort to take special care of Bruce during his time in hospital.

In lieu of flowers a donation to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.

There will be no formal service by request.

3 Comments

  1. Sending my deepest condolences for your loss.

  2. Thanks Jim and Ora…..your message is much appreciated.

  3. Ora and I were saddened and a bit shocked at how rapidly Bruce’s condition worsened. Our sympathies go out to you all because even if Bruce is in a happier hunting ground his death is a personal loss that is sad to deal with. Whoever wrote the obituary did an excellent job of capturing the qualities of the man that I admired over the years. I will miss my visits with Bruce, just wish there had been many more of them. Our sincere condolences to all the family. Hope to see you all before too long.

    Love, Jim & Ora

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