Darlene Campbell

Spunky and outgoing are words used to describe the personality of Darlene Campbell. Loving, kind and compassionate are words that clearly define the heart of Darlene. With faith, she had hope in her heart and searched longingly for truth. She will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by those who knew and loved her.

During the summer of 1942, Maynard and Wilma (Lapham) Perry of Dowagiac, Michigan welcomed the birth of a baby girl into their arms on August 17 and named her Alma Darlene. It was a blessed event for the happy couple during a time of great concern in the nation. The U.S. was heavily involved in World War II and life revolved around sacrifice in support of the war effort. Even in the midst of these troubling times, memorable films were enjoyed on the big screen like Casablanca, Yankee Doodle Dandy and Walt Disney’s Bambi. Darlene joined her older brother Dean in the Perry household where her father ran his own full service gas station. Her mother and took care of her young family as a homemaker and outside of the home worked as a house keeper.

As a child, Darlene enjoyed times spent as a family going on picnics and taking lazy weekend drives. Sometimes it was difficult for Darlene to make lasting friendships at school as they moved often, making many areas of southwest Michigan their home. Darlene experienced loss at very young age when her best friend died from polio. Darlene actually caught polio but luckily, it remained in her throat and she was able to live with it. Dean, her older brother, always looked out for his little sister whom he adored and protected. They got along exceedingly well and maintained a close relationship in the many years that followed. Eventually, the family settled in the community of Vicksburg in 1956 when Darlene was a young teen.

A significant time in the life of a young girl like Darlene, she fit right in at her new school and made many new friends with her bubbly personality and outgoing nature. It was at this time that she met her lifelong friends Ann, Carolyn and Sharon. Darlene became especially close with Ann Conklin. The two became inseparable and grew to be more like sisters rather than friends. Friday and Saturday nights were often spent roller skating at the Long Lake Roller Skating Rink and taking in the sock hop dances offered there. However, even as a young girl Darlene loved roller skating. In time she took up speed skating and became quite good at it. She was very compassionate about skating and she thrived on the rink competing with her spunky attitude. Later in 1982 and 1983, her hard work took her to the regional championships and she became state champion both years.

Her compassionate and tender heart was a perfect fit when she began working as a candy striper at the hospital during high school. Along with her studies at Vicksburg High School, she also took tap dance lessons. She went on to graduate with the Class of 1960. As a young adult, Darlene and others her age faced many changes within the culture of America. The Vietnam War was only in the beginning stages of U.S. involvement and racial tensions were at an all time high.

Before long she met a young man named Jackie Copeland and in time they were married. Together they had three beautiful sons. Erick Scot, Erin Brady and Errol Lee blessed Darlene beyond measure. She was actively involved in their lives and devoted herself in her role as a wife and mother. Sadly, she lost her beloved son Erin at the age of three. This was a most difficult time for Darlene. She had an extremely hard time dealing with the death of her son and turned to her faith and family to help her through it.

Married for 30 years, Darlene and Jackie’s marriage dissolved over time and they eventually divorced. She devoted a lot of her time bookkeeping for her father and sons businesses. Deciding to further her education, Darlene went on to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College where she studied business and took a computer class.

A turning point came in Darlene’s life in the mid 1980s while working at Kal-Aero, Inc. It was there that she met Dwight Campbell and the two began dating. In time a romance developed, and before long they were married on February 24, 1996. He loved her vivacious spirit and charitable heart. Darlene had a penchant for travel but her most treasured and memorable times were spent traveling in their motor home. Together they shared a love for gardening and Darlene canned many of the vegetables grown in their gardens. Becoming a grandmother also brought Darlene great joy. She adored her three grandchildren, Cody, Brady and Taigen with all of her heart. With a love for animals, Darlene especially enjoyed the love and companionship she found in her dogs.

Darlene loved singing and it seemed as though a song was always in her heart. A spiritual woman, she possessed an inner faith that was a large part her life. She had hope in her heart and searched longingly for truth. Over the years she attended numerous churches seeking answers to the many questions held within her. A source of strength came from her mother’s cherished keepsakes and belongings that Darlene held dear. She was proud of her mother and spoke of her often.

Sadly, Alma Darlene (Copeland) Campbell lost her battle with brain cancer on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at the age of 67. She is survived by her husband, Dwight; two children, Erick Scot (Delina) Copeland of Vicksburg and Errol Lee Copeland of Rockford; three grandchildren: Cody Seevers, Brady Scot Copeland and Taigen Lee-Anne Copeland; her brother, Dean (Carol) Perry of Vicksburg. She was preceded in death by her son, Erin Brady Copeland in 1967.

Learn more about Darlene, view her Life Story film, visit with her family and friends and share light refreshments on Friday from 4-7 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home, 409 S. Main, Vicksburg. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, 11:00 AM at the same location. Please visit Darlene’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can submit a favorite memory, photo, sign her memory book online before coming to the funeral home or make a memorial donation to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission and/or the Kalamazoo County Humane Society.