GARNER

Barbara Ann "Bobbie" Liles Campbell, 93, died the evening of February 9, 2021, at the Laurels of Forest Glenn in Garner, North Carolina. She was born near Wendell, in Wake County, on Nov. 28, 1927 to Matthew B. Liles and Lessie Horton Liles.

Bobbie lived a rich life dedicated to her loving family and Frank, her husband of 60 years. As a young girl, she spent many days in the Edgemont community restaurant her family owned, where she and her brother, Homer, sang and danced.

During World War II, her family moved to Carolina Beach, where her father and sister worked in the shipyards, and where Bobbie attended New Hanover High School. She returned to Raleigh for her senior year and graduated from Broughton High. She earned a two-year degree from St. Mary's and attended Meredith College until her oldest brother, Matthew Jr., went missing in a plane crash. That tragedy became a pivotal moment, and she left school and began her career at Dun & Bradstreet, where she remained until her retirement in 1986.

She met the love of her life, Frank Campbell, in the early 1950s. They were married October 27, 1956. The birth of her daughters, Julie and Jamie, began her lifelong love of and dedication to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bobbie savored the little things in life. She was fond of coffee from Hardee's, mowing the grass with a push mower, searching for vintage records at the Bargain Box. She loved York Peppermint Patties, walking her beloved Westie, Beau, on the beach and attending any and all sporting events and performances featuring her children and grandchildren. She closely followed current events and regularly read The Raleigh Times and, later, The News & Observer cover to cover. She never passed up an opportunity to talk about sports and politics with her grandsons, who lovingly knew her as Nana. Bobbie never let her age define her, remaining stylish and active well into her 80s.

Bobbie was a longtime member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers (Matthew Jr., Homer and Tom), her sister (Yuma), and her husband, Frank. She is survived by daughters Julie Pearce (Tim) and Jamie Ayscue (David); grandsons Andrew Carter, Vann Pearce (Emily), Stephen Pearce (Leslie), John Pearce (Sarah), and James Ayscue; great-grandchildren Owen, Emma, Charlotte, Annabelle, Brody and Campbell Pearce. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Bobbie's family would like to thank the staff of the Laurels, and specifically Phyllis, Elaine, Augusta and Rachael for their loving dedication over the past two years. We would also like to thank the staff at Heartland Hospice, especially the music therapists.

A family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund.

Nana, your love lives within all of us. You will be missed dearly.

Arrangements under the direction of Montlawn Funeral Home and Cremations.