CAMPBELL, George Robert Bob Campbell

He was born November 14, 1932, in Vancouver, BC to Margaret Jessie Anderson (later Campbell) and William George Johnston Campbell. Deceased December 2, 2025, at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, BC, following a fall that resulted in a serious neck fracture.

Bob was the most positive guy you’d ever meet. His twinkly smile lit up the room and never failed to lift your spirits! He was wise, gentle, strong, peaceful, happy, empathic, handsome, stylish, understanding, kind and preciously stubborn! If you needed assistance with anything he would listen and give you his thoughtful advice or recommend a path to research. He was curious about the people around him and made many neighbourhood friends wherever he lived. He always had time for everyone and would tell you a story or two, maybe about his youth in Vancouver or his father’s time in the war.

Bob grew up in Vancouver, living in the family home (hand built by his parents and family) together with his parents and older sister Ann (later married to Bob Raffle). He attended a local elementary school and later graduated from John Oliver High School. Bob played soccer and baseball during his school years and beyond. He played baseball for the BA Oil team while working in their Calgary office. Summers were spent at his uncle and cousins’ house in Horseshoe Bay with many fond memories of swimming in the bay, playing with his cousins, enjoying the bon fires and star gazing.

One of his early jobs was working as a meat cutter and counter help at the local butcher shop. He saved his money and bought his first house in Vancouver with the aid of his parents. He married his high school sweetheart (Maureen Laing) and had three children (Ray, born in 1957, Janice, 1959 and Paul, 1963). Bob and Maureen were married for 25 years at which time the marriage dissolved and they divorced.

Bob started working for British American Oil company (BA Oil) in the mail room and worked his way up into the new computer department as computers (main frames) were being introduced into the business. Night school and much on-the-job training allowed him to excel to the point he was recommended for a promotion in their Calgary office. He accepted and moved his family. After 5 years in Calgary Bob was again promoted. This time to work at head office in Toronto. Toronto was a huge change and very unsettling for his family. After 2 years he decided Toronto (and the job) was not the place to be, gave his notice and returned to the west coast. Once back in Vancouver his job search led him to an opportunity at the University of Victoria in August of 1966. He moved his family over to Victoria, found a lot and had his first Victoria home built on Morningside Close. There he made lifelong friends and discovered new hobbies and projects to put his time into.

One of those projects was building a summer cabin on Salt Spring Island. He spent time there with his family building the cabin and enjoying the summers. Bob would go back to work on Monday and return to Salt Spring on Friday night.

Bob was active in the community, volunteering in many roles over the years. In support of his children’s character development and life skills, Bob volunteered with the cubs and became a cub pack leader. He volunteered with the Victoria Operatic Society (VOS) for several years, helping to put on shows at the Macpherson Playhouse, as well as serving on the board, including a stint as president. His family also joined VOS as singers, dancers, set builders, and performers to entertain the public. He was also a board member of the Victoria Arts Council, funding the arts grants in the city of Victoria. He was a long-term member of the UVIC faculty club along with serving as its president. While living at The Victorian in recent years, he initiated and led a committee to raise funds to provide staff with Christmas bonuses, as a thank you from the residents in recognition of the staff’s dedication and hard work.

Bob discovered a passion for sailboats and sailing around the west coast. The Anajolie was his first sailboat upon which he spent many summers sailing and cruising with family and friends. As his love of sailing grew, he became a member of the Royal Victoria Yacht club. The Anajolie was sold during the breakup with his first wife, Maureen.

Bob met his second wife, Shirley Harris, the love of his life, in 1983 while both were working at the University of Victoria (UVIC). They married in 1986 and were married for 35 years until Shirley’s passing in 2021. They shared a love of the ocean and sailed for many happy years on their sailboat, Gentle Air, and became members of Van Isle Yacht Club. They loved to sail through the Gulf Islands and up to Desolation Sound. Bob and Shirley also loved Hawaii, travelling there many times, often to their favourite spot on Maui.

His time at UVIC (1966 – 1992) resulted in promotions, new projects and helping to shape the future expansion of the university. He started working at UVIC with the job title of Systems Analyst which was one of the first such appointments in a western Canada university. During his career he directed the development of computerized circulation and serials operations for the UVIC library. Bob served on many committees including the BC Library Association (BCLA), Canada Library Association (CLA), and the National Library. He also served as a consultant to the University of Lethbridge while they planned and implemented their library computerization. His job title at retirement from UVIC was Manager of Libraries Systems and Budget which reflects the significant role he played in the development of the western Canada university libraries.

After celebrating his 90^th birthday in November 2022 at his Lynnfield Crescent home with his very special Lynnfield neighbours, long-term friends and family in attendance, Bob moved to his final home at The Victorian on Feltham Road in Victoria, BC. He was very involved there, participating in many activities and forging lovely new friendships. He was especially delighted, if not surprised (“…neither of us were looking for love again, it just seemed to happen!”) to develop a deep and precious bond with a special lady, Ruth, with whom he shared a beautiful relationship. Bob felt very grateful and blessed to have Ruth in his life for this past year and a half or so.

We extend our gratitude and appreciation to Bob’s amazing doctor, whom Bob thought the world of, Dr. Jennifer Lush, for taking such great care of him over the years, along with all the nurses, doctors and staff at the Jubilee Hospital for their kindness, care, and “getting” who Bob was, during the 2 ½ months he was there.

To quote the president of the University of Victoria at Bob’s retirement party, “You have enriched all of our lives Bob, and you will be greatly missed not only in the library but all over the university”. Indeed, Bob inspired and taught all of us so much by simply being who he was, and he will be so very deeply missed. He was, very simply, the best of us!

Bob is pre-deceased by his wife, Shirley (2021), daughter, Janice (1987), and survived by his children, Ray (Barbara), Paul, Cathi, Jill, and John along with his grandchildren, nephews, niece, and valued friends.

A Celebration of Life is being held on March 13, 2026, at the University Club (formerly called the Facility Club), in the Fireplace Lounge, from 2:00-5:00 pm. In addition to celebrating Bob’s life, we are also honouring the life of his beloved wife Shirley Campbell (formerly Harris, nee Hebden) who passed in 2021 just before the COVID ban on public events. Friends and family are invited to join us in honouring the lives of these two very special people.

Driving directions to the University Club:

Traveling east on McKenzie Ave, turn right on McGill Road, at the main University of Victoria entrance sign – 280 m,

Turn right onto West Campus Way 13 m,

Turn left to stay on West Campus Way 250 m,

Turn left, arriving at parking lot in 49 metres

Note: Please remember your license plate number as it is needed to buy a parking ticket at the ticket machine, located at the entrance of the parking lot.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com

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