Harold Robert Campbell, 84, of Madisonville, passed away peacefully at 8:45 p.m. Friday September 26, 2025 at his home with family and friends by his bedside.
A native of Sturgis, Kentucky, he was born to the late Charles Campbell and Julia Baker Campbell on March 16, 1941.
He was a faithful member of Eastview Missionary Baptist Church in Madisonville where he was a member of the men’s choir, retired from former Goodyear and Speed Queen Manufacturing Plants in Madisonville where he worked as a Quality Control Specialist, and in 1980 was admitted as a member of Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine Cawthar Temple #118 of Evansville, Indiana which is a Shriners organization for men of color dedicated to supporting charitable causes and social activities, was a U.S. Air Force Veteran and a Vietnam War Veteran.
He was the first African American Medical Technician to be employed with Hopkins County Hospital in Madisonville where he graduated and received his certificate from the Hopkins County Hospital School of Laboratory Assistants on September 12, 1969, was admitted as an Associate Member of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists from its Board of Censors and by vote of the Board of Directors in 1983, and was placed on the Registry of Medical Pathologists by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists as a Certified Laboratory Assistant from its Board of Registry.
He also was a member of the first African American group to sing at the all Caucasian American Legion in Madisonville, graduate of African American Historic Rosenwald High School in Madisonville, loved grilling, was an avid UK sports fan, and his favorite thing to do was “whistle”.
In addition to his parents, he also was preceded in death by one brother, James Campbell and one sister, Diana Johnson.
He leaves behind to cherish his loving memories, his loving and devoted wife of 33 years, Lillie Rebecca Drake Campbell of Madisonville; four sons, Terry (Barbara) Campbell of Madisonville, Michael Campbell of Madisonville, Harold (Julie) Campbell Jr. of Evansville; and Bobby Bowman Jr. of Hanson, Kentucky; four daughters, LaTasha Campbell of Madisonville, Jillian (Mark) Bowman of Earlington, Kentucky, Brooke Poe of Madisonville, and Lauren (Mark) Lewis of Madisonville; two sisters, Gonzella (James) Hardy of Madisonville, and Laura Campbell of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
His life will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Saturday October 4, 2025 at Eastview Missionary Baptist Church.
Pastor LaBarron F. McAdoo Jr. will officiate.
Burial will be in Elliott Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Madisonville with military graveside honors performed by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio and by the Hopkins County Honor Guard.
Visitation and wake services will be from 11:00 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.
Elliott-Bowles Mortuary in Madisonville is in charge of his professional services and arrangements.
Condolences can be shared with the family at www.elliottmortuarycares.com.
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