Long time Florida resident, Sally Sue Campbell age 94 passed away December 15, 2021 in Vero Beach, Fla.  She had been hospitalized 4 weeks earlier due to a fall suffered in her home.

Born in Columbus, Georgia on Thanksgiving 1927, Sally and her late sister Bobbie Lee Command spent their formative years in Baltimore, Maryland and were raised by their parents Lona Jordan Ferguson and Edgar R. Ferguson. Sally’s heritage through her Mother’s Jordan family dates back before the 16th century with her family among the earliest European settlers of North America near historic Jamestown,Virginia in 1610.

In 1947 Sally married WW2 combat veteran and Pan American aviator Harry Walden who passed away at age 29 on Christmas Day 1951.  Sally was later married for 20 years to WW2 combat veteran, Baltimore Sun Newspaper sports writer and Central Florida golf professional the late William Campbell.

Originally working as a senior agent in customer service for the operations center of Eastern Airlines in Baltimore, Sally would later become a “semi” stay at home mom raising 3 boys and assist in running golf pro shops and tournament events at various central Florida country clubs.

Active in the community, she was a past member of the Lake Wales Planning and Zoning commission and worked on the George Bush Sr. Presidential campaign in Polk County.

For 14 years she was a successful travel agent for the Stanland Lake Wales Travel bureau specializing in corporate travel planning for Citrus industry moguls. Sally was very proud of this work handling all types of commercial and retail business for domestic and international travel to individuals and large groups. And much of this was before Disney was built and before wide spread computer automation.

Sally worked for several decades as a Sales Counselor for Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. frequently ranking #1 in department sales which resulted in many performance commendations.  When she retired in her 80’s she was the oldest active employee working for Universal. Interacting with thousands of guests, if you ever contacted Universal…you probably spoke to Sally.

A lifetime animal rights supporter & member of the national Audubon society Sally helped run the National Audubon Center in Babson Park, Florida conducting field trips that emphasized conservation projects of local natural resources and wildlife.

She was Assistant Director of the Lake Wales Historical Museum which helped preserve the historical culture of central Florida plus an Environmental Educator in the Polk County school system teaching conservation at all grade levels.

One of her most rewarding positions was as Environment Educator at the world renown Bok Tower in Lake Wales, Fla listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the 250 acres she would escort groups throughout the gardens and woods where nature could be viewed in all its’ beauty and teach the lessons of animal conservation, preservation, & clean environment to future generations. She often cited the grounds as one of the most beautiful and environmentally conscientious locations in the country. She particularly enjoyed helping injured wild animals, birds, snakes, and small mammals resulting in their eventual release on the grounds. And in fact several generations of children would defer to her as an expert on wild animal care bringing her injured critters of all kinds.  And for a while, even her enclosed front porch would be a free roaming haven for injured baby squirrels.

Sally is survived by her 3 children and their families, Chris Campbell of Vero Beach, Florida., Patrick Campbell of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Terry Walden of Kansas City, Missouri.  4 grand children- Molly, Todd, Annabelle, & Kaelan and 1 great grandchild, Oliver.

All services will be private. Contributions to your favorite environmental organizations are encouraged.