Barbara Sidwell Herrick Campbell, cherished her family

Barbara Sidwell Herrick Campbell passed away Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, at Delaware Hospice.

Barbara was the second child of Eddie and Mabel Herrick of Seaford. As a child, Barbara always loved her dolls, and could not wait to babysit for neighbors’ children. She enjoyed living on Hearn’s Pond with her sister, Betty and brothers, Bryan and Blaine. She would also stay with her Aunt Mildred and Uncle Lindley in Wilmington, where she and her cousin Bruce would spend time together during the summers. When her Aunt Thelma and Uncle Jim moved their family to a house on the Chesapeake Bay in Silver Beach, Va., Barbara would stay with them to help care for her three young cousins, Dawn, Jimmy and Christi. “Bobby,” as her Dad nicknamed her, always remained very close with her relatives in Delaware and Virginia, and was a very devoted daughter, sister and niece.

Barbara attended Seaford High School and graduated in 1961. After high school, she worked at Diamond State Telephone Company, where she was a switchboard operator and supervisor. In 1963 at Rehoboth Beach, Barbara met Don Campbell, a staff sergeant in the Air Force stationed at Dover Air Force Base. Barbara and Don were married in November 1965. They moved to Flint, Mich., near Don’s family, where Don worked at AC Spark Plugs and Barbara transferred to Michigan Bell Telephone.

Barbara and Don moved back to Delaware in 1967 to start their family. Once her kids Amy, Julie and Mark were in school, Barbara started a home daycare because of her love of caring for children. For over 10 years, Barbara cared for many children who were very fortunate to have such a wonderful, loving caretaker during their formative years. When her kids were out of school, Barb worked at several retail stores in the Dover area. She also was a longtime member of TOPS Club in Dover, where she met dear friends Judy, Ginny and Faye, who she frequently joined for group lunches throughout the years.

Barb’s greatest joy came from the births of her two granddaughters, Isabel and Megan, and she was so happy to have helped care for them at various times during their early life. Izzy and Megan were the light of Barb’s days; she was thrilled to attend their sports events, choir and dance recitals, and any other special occasion where she could see her granddaughters thrive.

Barbara faced her health challenges with quiet resolve and enduring grace. She was extremely thankful for the care she received from her healthcare teams, and would always come from an appointment with a story about one of her care team members. She was especially appreciative of the girls on the Helen F. Graham Center chemotherapy clinic team.

Friends Judi and Rusty Rodgers became family to Barbara, and she loved spending time with them, celebrating birthdays and holidays, and enjoying a girls’ Christmas trip to New York City.

Barbara was preceded in death by her father, Edward B. Herrick Jr.; her mother, Mabel Doughty Herrick; sister Betty Jane Herrick Trudel; and sister-in-law Jimmie Lou Herrick.  Barbara is survived by her husband of nearly 57 years, Donald T. Campbell; and her children, Amy Campbell of Lewes, Julie Campbell-Reilly and husband Ken Reilly of Milford, and Mark Campbell and wife Liddy Campbell of Felton; granddaughters, Isabel and Megan; and brothers, Edward Bryan Herrick III of Sugarland, Texas, and Blaine Herrick of Seaford; cousins, Christi Hill Medice and her husband Rick of Silver Beach, Va., and James Hill of Virginia.

The family will announce a celebration of Barbara’s life for friends and family to gather at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in Barbara’s name to Food Bank of Delaware, or Brandywine SPCA.

Letters of condolence may be sent and guestbook signed at torbertfuneral.com.