Janice Campbell (Parson)

Janice C. Campbell, age 100 and a lifetime resident of Kosciusko County, passed away on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 6:18 p.m. in Miller’s Merry Manor Assisted Living where she’s lived since 2010.

Born on August 3, 1920 near Leesburg to Charles and Blanche E. (Kirkendall) Parson, she attended schools in Oswego and Leesburg. She graduated from Leesburg with the class of 1938 and, on January 29, 1939, she was married to Homer Campbell in Leesburg. The pair lived near Atwood where they raised their family. Homer served in the Navy during WWII and they shared more than 73 years together before he passed on June 11, 2012.

Janice enjoyed sewing, gardening, flowers and children. Her love of children showed in the amount of time spent babysitting for relatives especially during WWII. She enjoyed traveling and was able to spend an entire week in Hawaii, took a boat trip to Mexico and a motor home trip to Alaska. She also enjoyed trips to Michigan in the Spring to hunt for mushrooms. Winters were spent in either Southern Texas, Arizona or Florida.

Wonderful memories were created while traveling by rail from the depot at the west end of Leesburg to Peru to visit relatives; also making stops at the Harley Grocery Store, the Metz Drug Store, the Kelly and Dye Funeral Home, the doctors; C. Thomas and P.G. Germier and the Saturday night sugar drawings.

Janice was very interested in county history, especially since her great, great uncle was Isaac Kirkendall, the first sheriff of Kosciusko County. She remembers buying articles in the Oswego Store which is now the Pound Store; one of the oldest businesses in the county and part of the County Historical Society.

Janice is survived by her three children: son, Daniel (Linda) of Fort Wayne, Sharilyn Anthony of Clearwater, FL and Nancy Campbell of Fort Wayne. Two Granddaughters; Kristi (Rick) Harding of San Marcos, CA and Kimberly (Shawn) Patterson of Fort Wayne, along with five great-grandchildren: Cole, Madalyn and Cade Patterson and Sophia and Charlotte Harding and one great-great-grandson. She was preceded in death by a grandson; Blake Stevens, a son-in-law, her parents, a sister; Crystal Niebert and two brothers; Forest and Claire Parson.

A Life Celebration is planned with Titus Funeral Home of 2000 East Sheridan Street, Warsaw where the family will receive friends on Thursday, June 10, 2021, beginning at 10a.m. At 12:00 p.m., Hospice Chaplain John Schrock will officiate Janice’s funeral service. Burial will take place at Wooden/Harrison Center Cemetery.

Those wishing to express their sympathy may give to Traditions Hospice whose gentle care was much appreciated in Janice’s final days; envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Written condolences may be left for the family at www.TitusFuneralHome.com