Private graveside services for Robert Gene “Bob” Campbell, Sr., 83, of Corinth, Miss., will be held on
Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Robert S. Campbell Memorial Cemetery in Rose Hill, Virginia. No local
services will be held.
Bob passed away on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo,
surrounded by his family. He was born in Rose Hill, Virginia on July 19, 1940, to Robert S. and Nola
Osborne Campbell. He was a 1957 graduate of Hall High School in Grays Knob, Ky. Together with his
father, Bob worked as a technician with the Perkins Harlan Coal Company in Liggett, Ky., where (as a
school-aged kid) he worked to build a coal camp cable television system in the early to mid-50s.
In August 1957, Bob married Frances Dean, who he affectionately said was the “first girl who ever told
me she loved me, so I married her.” He and Frances briefly relocated to Chicago, Ill. so that Bob could
attend Coyne Electric College. They both worked while Bob was in trade school; after they paid the bills,
if they had any money left over, they enjoyed attending Cubs games and going to the movies.
After Bob graduated from Coyne, Bob and Frances returned home to Kentucky, where they started a
family and Bob opened a local television repair shop in Harlan, Ky. Bob later worked as a community
access television (CATV) sweep engineer for Entron Incorporated in Bladensburg, Md. until 1962. In
1962, he was recruited to North Mississippi to help develop the area’s early cable television system. He
became partner and general manager of Corinth Video Company, providing cable services to Corinth
and the surrounding area for the next two decades. From the mid-80s to early 90s, he owned two
businesses: Corinth Nursery and Garden Center, as well as North Mississippi Cablevision, which served
Alcorn and Prentiss Counties. In 1992, he purchased a cable system in Pickwick/Counce, Tenn. that
became known as Pickwick Cablevision, where he continued to work into his 80s.
Though Bob was a very hard worker, he found time for many recreational and community activities that
he so enjoyed. He was a little league baseball coach for 15 years at the former Corinth YMCA and played
adult-league softball into his mid-30s, pitching for the Corinth Video fast pitch softball team – a team
that participated in tournaments throughout the southern U.S. for several years and won the Mississippi
Fast Pitch Softball State Championship in both 1970 and 1975. He was often called upon to give pitching
lessons to area kids. Bob was a field trial birddog enthusiast, competing and winning several awards in
various field trials. Given his Kentucky roots, Bob loved horses, owning many horses throughout the
years. He was also an avid golfer and fisherman. Bob had many interests and he loved a challenge; in
every activity he took up, he worked at it until he reached his full potential – and then he moved on to
another activity and another challenge. Interestingly, he did it all with only one good eye, having been
partially blinded at the age of 12.
Bob will be remembered for his giving heart. If he saw a need, he found a way to meet it, even before
someone asked for help. He always gave a kind word and looked for the good in everyone. He loved a
good joke. He could be counted on to give it to you straight; you always knew where you stood with
Bob. He was very proud of where he came from – the son of a Kentucky coal miner. He modeled how to
work hard and never to give up. Like all of us, he was not perfect, but he was a blessing to the many who
knew him. When his wife Frances became ill, Bob compassionately cared for her throughout a fifteen-
year sickness until the end of her life. In his later years, he loved being “Paw Paw” to his grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. He was fiercely loyal to his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by Frances, his wife of 59 years; his parents, Robert S. and Nola Osborne
Campbell; two brothers Robert Charles Campbell and Harry King Campbell; and two sisters Angelina
Campbell and Donna Campbell Keith. He is survived by his sister Beverly Mills (Don) of Winchester, Ky.
and brother Tom Campbell (Helen) of Ashland, Ky. He is also survived by his three children Nola J.
Campbell of Rockaway Beach, N.Y., Robert Gene Campbell, Jr. (Maria) of Corinth, and Sherri Robbins
(Jeff) of Corinth. He also leaves behind six grandchildren Taylor O. Calderon (Zach), Robert G. “Trip”
Campbell III, Mary Frances Reaves (Quade), A.J. Robbins (Emi), Allen Robbins (Cari), and Ashley Thrasher
(Jesse); as well as four great-grandchildren Natalie Rae Calderon, Brandon Cole, Huck Thrasher, and
Breck Thrasher.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the maintenance of the Robert S. Campbell Memorial
Cemetery in Rose Hill, Va. Donations may be made payable to the cemetery and may be mailed to P.O.
Box 12, Pickwick Dam, TN 38365.
