PORTSMOUTH- Josie Prescott Campbell passed away on October 24, 2017 in Portsmouth, VA at the age of 82.
Josie was born in 1934 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island to Lillian (West) and Robert Prescott, one of seven children.
She graduated from South Kingstown High School, and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree from Dickinson College, a Master's Degree in English from the University of Rhode Island and a PhD in English from Penn State University.
In 1954, Josie married the love of her life, Don Campbell. They were happily married for 37 years, until Don's death in 1991.
Josie taught for a number of years in the public high schools in Cumberland County, PA. Subsequent to earning her PhD, she began teaching English at the University of Rhode Island. She retired from the university in 2010 as a full professor. Dr. Campbell authored several books, focused on some of her favorite authors and subject areas (John Irving, Zora Neale Hurston, popular culture of the Middle Ages). A voracious and analytical reader, Josie instilled in her daughters a similar love of books. After she retired from teaching English, Josie brought her teaching skills to tai chi, sharing her love of the practice with a wide variety of students.
Josie is survived by her three daughters, Joanne Campbell of Portsmouth VA, Laura Campbell of O'Fallon, IL and Kathy McShane (John) of St. Helena Island, SC, and by three grandsons, Isaac Davis of Portsmouth, VA, Samuel Davis of Chesapeake, VA and Gordon McShane of Seattle, WA. She is also survived by two sisters, Linda Umsted of Narragansett, RI and Betty Auten of Sierra Vista, AZ, and a brother, Walter Prescott (Betty), of Shannock, RI.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00p.m. Friday, December 1, at St. John's Episcopal Church, 424 Washington St., Portsmouth. The family suggests that donations be made to Dickinson College, 28 N College St., Carlisle, PA 17013, or to Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.