Phoebe Perry Campbell passed away peacefully at her home in Honolulu on October 21, 2021. Born in Dallas, TX on July 26, 1933, she spent the majority of her childhood in Edina, MN, graduating from Edina High School in 1951. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, she earned her graduate teaching degree from Harvard in 1956 and was recruited for a two year term as a 6th grade teacher at Punahou School. Little did she know that this adventure to exotic Hawaii would bring her a lifetime of happiness there. Phoebe lived with some friends at a house on the beach at Diamond Head, and at a party in May of 1958, she met a handsome young lawyer named Jim Campbell. They were married in August of that year; the start of 59 years of love and companionship. They had three children and settled into a wonderful life in Manoa. Phoebe lovingly dedicated her life to Jim and their children, but was also very passionate about volunteering and held leadership positions in the Junior League, and Garden Club and was the President of Punahou Aquatics for several years as well as Punahou PFA President. She also spearheaded the development of docent-led tours for school children at the Bishop Museum and the Honolulu Art Academy. Perhaps one of her biggest and most exciting undertakings was her role as President of the Punahou Carnival in 1984. Phoebe and Jim retired to Kahala Nui in 2007 and immensely enjoyed their years there, with both of them making many new friends and Phoebe serving on the Food and Library Committees and participating in Play Reading and Writing seminars.
Spending time with friends and family at their home at Makena, Maui, traveling and seeing the world with Jim, and spending time with her children and 8 grandchildren were the great joys of her life. Phoebe was very gregarious with a wonderful sense of humor, and she was loved by all who knew her. She cherished her friends (of which she had many) and family, often regaling them with important advice that she lived by such as, "Never miss a party," "Don't go if it isn't fun," and "Never forget to take your swim suit as you never know when you'll have a chance to take a swim!" Thank you, Mom, for being a wonderful mother and Tutu, and for showing kindness, love and fun to us all. We will miss you tremendously, but will carry your spirit with us.
Phoebe was preceded in death by her husband, James Campbell, and is survived by son James "Whit" Campbell of Kirkland, WA, his wife Malia and children Hannah Heuerman (Khye), James Peter and Sophie; daughter Nancy Manso of San Diego, CA, her husband Lou and children Shannon (fiancé Adam Farsheed), James and Andy; daughter Gail O'Connor of Redwood City, CA her husband Mike and children David and Cameron; sisters Nancy Siddall of CO, Gretchen Beiswanger (Jim) of MN, and 12 nieces and nephews.
In honor of Phoebe's lifelong love of education, memorials may be made in her name to Kahala Nui (4389 Malia Street, Honolulu, HI 96821) to benefit the Kahala Nui Residents Scholarship fund, which supports employees and their dependents pursuing higher education.
A Celebration of Life service will be held for Phoebe
in Honolulu at a later date.
